STOCKTON, Calif. — The Stockton Diamond Grade Separation project, which seeks to eliminate an at-grade crossing of BNSF and Union Pacific main lines, has received $14 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding.
The funding has been approved by the San Joaquin Council of Governments, or SJCOG
“The last thing our farmers and local businesses need is the worst railway bottleneck in the state grinding our economy to a halt,” U.S. Rep. Josh Harder (D-Stockton) said in a press release announcing the funding. “… I look forward to getting this project done ASAP so our goods can get back on the move instead of sitting in traffic.”
In addition to addressing freight congestion, the project will also aid on-time performance for Amtrak San Joaquins and Altamont Corridor Express commuter trains which pass through the diamond.
Stacey Mortenson, executive director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, which oversees both passenger services, called the news “a major step forward for the Stockton Diamond Grade Separation, addressing longstanding congestion and safety challenges at one of California’s most critical rail intersections. We are grateful for SJCOG’s commitment to our vision of improving regional transportation efficiency, safety, and air quality for San Joaquin County residents, which aligns perfectly with our ongoing mission to enhance regional connectivity.”
Plans call for construction of a flyover to carry the UP main line over the BNSF. According to the project website, as of 2021, the cost of the project was estimated at $237 million, and had $100 million in state and $20 million in federal funding in hand.
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