A $237 million project expected to relieve congestion for the four major railroads and passenger trains that cross paths just south of downtown Stockton got a major boost recently when the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $20 million grant for the long-anticipated infrastructure improvements.
Known as the Stockton Diamond Grade Separation Project, the intention is to elevate the north/south Union Pacific Railroad tracks over the east/west BNSF Railway tracks. The tracks currently cross at street level near South Aurora Street and East Scotts Avenue and are rated as the busiest, most congested at-grade rail junction in California.
The current configuration requires trains to wait up to 30 minutes when another train is passing through the junction. The proposed project will allow for the uninterrupted flow of rail traffic through the crossing.