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STOCKTON
July 27, 2009 12:58pm
• Commuter railroad will build in Stockton
• Cost estimated at $65 million
Construction is expected to start in September on a $65 million building that will be the new permanent maintenance facility for Altamont Commuter Express, which provides commuter rail passenger service between Stockton and San Jose.
Environmental assessments for the project have been completed and approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, says consulting firm PBS&J, which developed three environmental documents for the facility.
ACE has been operating its current maintenance facilities at the Stockton Railyard since 1999 through a lease with the Union Pacific Railroad.
“The new maintenance facility will enable ACE to perform railcar repairs faster, increase equipment availability, and decrease unproductive and time-consuming switching of equipment across UPRR tracks, which can cause a lot of headaches,” says Gregg Baxter, director of operations for the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, which manages, maintains, and operates the ACE service.
“Having to produce three environmental documents through three separate processes made this project unique. Each one had to meet a different set of standards and procedures,” says Rachael Galaraga, PBS&J associate project manager. PBS&J completed separate environmental documents to comply with regulations set by the California Environmental Quality Act and to meet regulations for federal funding established by the National Environmental Policy Act.
As part of its research, PBS&J says it conducted studies using ground penetrating radar to identify unmarked grave shafts. “Fortunately, no graves were found in the proposed construction site area, which will alleviate what could have been a potential problem,“ says Ms. Galaraga.
The preferred site for the new facility is at East Alpine Avenue and West Lane in eastern Stockton. The SJRRC expects construction of the new maintenance facility to begin in September 2009. Completion of the project is estimated for fall 2011. The overall cost of the project is $65 million, which is funded by both federal and local sources.
Copyright Central Valley Business Times © 2009
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