The Tracks at Brea, CA
Ninyo & Moore, a SOCOTEC Company, delivered environmental and geotechnical services to support soil remediation and redevelopment at The Tracks at Brea in California.
Key Information
Project Name: The Tracks at Brea Remedial Action Plans and Remediation Oversight
Client: City of Brea
Location: Brea, California
Services Provided: Environmental Services, Geotechnical Support, Soil Remediation
Awards: ASCE Orange County Outstanding Bikeways and Trails Project Award (2018) and California Trails and Greenways Conference Foundation Merit Award (2019)
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The Challenge
Redeveloping a Former Railroad Corridor Safely
The Tracks at Brea project involved the redevelopment of a 3.5-mile former railroad corridor into a dual-tread pedestrian and bicycle trail serving a dense and highly visible urban environment. The corridor required careful environmental evaluation due to identified shallow arsenic contamination across multiple segments.
The project presented several complex challenges:
- Ensuring public safety in a high-use community corridor
- Addressing soil contamination concerns across six identified segments
- Coordinating environmental cleanup in a multi-phase, grant-funded public infrastructure project
- Navigating regulatory requirements with the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA)
- Maintaining construction momentum while ensuring environmental compliance and quality control
The site also had to remain aligned with community expectations, as the trail would provide critical access to the Brea Community Center, Downtown Brea, schools, parks, and the Brea Mall, making long-term environmental assurance essential.
The Solution
Integrated Environmental and Geotechnical Expertise
Ninyo & Moore, a SOCOTEC Company, provided a fully integrated suite of environmental and geotechnical services to support safe redevelopment and regulatory approval.
Key contributions included:
Completion of Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
Development of Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) for two critical segments, based on Phase II ESA findings
Execution of environmental monitoring and remediation oversight across three of the six impacted segments
Active regulatory negotiation with OCHCA, including agreement on cleanup goals tailored to site conditions
Delivery of construction-phase environmental reporting to ensure compliance and transparency
Performance of geotechnical oversight, including grading observation and compaction testing across all three segments
Ninyo & Moore, a SOCOTEC Company, provided a fully integrated suite of environmental and geotechnical services to support safe redevelopment and regulatory approval.
Key contributions included:
Completion of Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
Development of Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) for two critical segments, based on Phase II ESA findings
Execution of environmental monitoring and remediation oversight across three of the six impacted segments
Active regulatory negotiation with OCHCA, including agreement on cleanup goals tailored to site conditions
Delivery of construction-phase environmental reporting to ensure compliance and transparency
Performance of geotechnical oversight, including grading observation and compaction testing across all three segments
The Results
A Safe, Connected, and Award-Winning Community Asset
The Tracks at Brea now serves as a vital multi-use transportation and recreation corridor, enhancing mobility, wellness, and community connectivity across the City of Brea.
Key outcomes included:
Regulatory closure letters obtained for all three actively remediated segments
Successful completion of environmental remediation under OCHCA oversight
Safe redevelopment of a formerly blighted railroad corridor into public infrastructure
Improved access to key civic, educational, commercial, and recreational destinations
Recognition through multiple regional awards for excellence in trail and bikeway development
Beyond technical success, the project demonstrates how environmental remediation can directly support urban revitalization and community well-being.
