The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) recently awarded the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), the owner, operator and policy-making body for the Altamont Corridor Express service in California, a $14 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant for the Stockton Diamond Grade Separation project.
The project will resolve the busiest and most congested rail bottleneck in California by separating the principal rail lines of BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad to allow uninterrupted rail traffic flow. Currently, the railroads’ tracks intersect at-grade in Stockton just south of downtown.
“This funding approval from SJCOG is 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,” Stacey Mortensen, SJRRC executive director, said. “We are grateful for SJCOG’s and FHWA’s (Federal Highway Administration) 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.”
The project will improve on-time performance facilitating passenger rail service expansion for Altamont Corridor Express and Amtrak San Joaquins, reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with freight travel, enhance efficiency, and enhance mobility at key railway/roadway crossings for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.