A total of $14 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding has been awarded to reduce congestion at the Stockton Diamond, which is the busiest and most congested rail bottleneck in California. This funding program, which was reauthorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that area Congressman Josh Harder helped negotiate and pass and approved by the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG), will separate principal rail lines to allow uninterrupted rail traffic flow.

“The last thing our farmers and local businesses need is the worst railway bottleneck in the state grinding our economy to a halt,” said Rep. Harder, with announcement of the funds coming earlier this month. “I helped bring federal investments back to the Valley to fix our aging infrastructure, and this project will deliver in spades by reducing congestion and improving safety. 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 easing congestion at the Stockton Diamond, which is used by both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve site accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. Once completed, the project will also improve on-time performance of passenger rail services like the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) and Amtrak San Joaquins.

“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,” said Stacey Mortensen, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. “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.”