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Construction Package 1 (CP1), a 32-mile stretch between Madera to Fresno, was the first significant construction contract executed for the CA High-Speed Rail Program.  This package includes 12 grade separations, two viaducts, one tunnel, a major river crossing, and the realignment of State Route 99.

JMA has completed the design of the three shooflies of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) mainline in Fresno, including at: Downtown, Westside Wye and Herndon.  These 3 shooflies, totaling over 14,000 feet of new track, enable the construction of four underpasses of UPRR required for establishing the high-speed train alignment adjacent to UPRR through Fresno.  The work has involved substantial interface with UPRR design criteria and standards and engagement with UPRR staff and consultants to identify the specific constraints at each crossing and develop effective solutions to these constraints that meet UPRR criteria and construction phasing, staging and methods that minimize impacts to UPRR to the greatest extent possible. JMA prepared other elements of the design related to UPRR, including modifications to 2 temporary at-grade crossings and 1 permanent reconfigured crossing, and designed and coordinated numerous utility relocations and special protections required by the shooflies, for Kinder Morgan and PG&E facilities.

The downtown shoofly was completed in January 2022 and the Westside Wye shoofly was completed in May 2022. JMA is currently advancing final shoofly design for the Herndon Crossing which is expected to be constructed by 2025.

Supporting the design-build contractor, California Rail Builders, JMA led the design of two adjacent shooflies of BNSF mainline for Construction Package 4 (CP4) in Wasco.  JMA developed the at-grade alternative technical concept during tender phase that avoided the expensive and impactful BNSF viaduct structure through Wasco shown in the base bid documents.  Working closely with BNSF, a single long shoofly was modified to two shorter shooflies, eliminating impacts to the BNSF Wasco yard and adjacent Amtrak station.

In addition to designing over 32,000 feet of new mainline and shoofly tracks, JMA led SJRRC and SJJPA engagement for conceptual layout of the pedestrian tunnel, street parking and overall rider access to the Wasco Amtrak station, coordinated all utility relocation submittals with the BNSF (45 applications), designed a 15,000-foot relocation of a Lumen fiber line through Wasco, and led the CPUC applications for 10 new and modified crossings.  JMA additionally performed independent technical review of the HST and associated project drainage for a 3-mile segment through Wasco. 

JMA was successful in leading an expedited design and construction schedule with Lumen, BNSF, and the Authority, with construction completed in under 9 months from the start of design. The Lumen fiber optic relocation was completed in October of 2019 and the Poso Ave shoofly entered operation in 2022, with the construction of the Poso Ave Underpass completed in 2023.

JMA designed a new rail yard at the Port of Stockton to support expanded interchange capabilities and capacities between the Port, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The yard is also served by Central California Traction Company, which interchanges with BNSF and UPRR. The project consisted of approximately 20,000 ft of new ballasted track for storing and handling BNSF cars at the Port’s 700 Yard facility, including two new lead tracks, 18 new turnouts, and 9 new yard tracks.

The design included grading and drainage, utility encasement, access roads and associated demolition and the accommodation for Caltrans’ adjacent widening of SR-4 and the resulting modifications to the grade separation with the yard tracks and tie-in to BNSF’s mainline at the east of the yard.  Several temporary track phases were designed to accommodate the bridge construction while maintaining BNSF operations.

The CA Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) required replacement of the Sacramento Southern Railroad track between the Capitol Mall at-grade crossing and the Circle of Lights at-grade crossing in Sacramento, California.  This segment of track was constructed with no drainage system and standing water had been observed by the Client following past rain events.  The poor drainage condition impacted the rail gauge and access to wire line pull boxes and damaged the adjacent asphalt pavement.  Additionally, the rails were installed with non-staggered joints. 

As Track Design Lead, JMA designed the 800 ft track replacement which included the full removal and replacement of the existing rails, ties, ballast, subballast, asphalt pavement walkways, pull boxes and wire lines while protecting in place the adjacent pedestrian walkways. This included the at-grade crossing improvements and associated grading and drainage design.

San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) is proposing to expand ACE passenger rail services in the San Joaquin Valley utilizing the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) rail network. JMA is currently designing the track and at-grade crossing improvements for the Elk Grove, Ceres and Ripon stations. This work includes over 15-miles of new track, including secondary mainline, 4 industry track improvements, a 3/4-mile track shift, 3 at-grade crossing improvements, the Ceres Layover Facility, and associated track grading and drainage. 

JMA coordinated extensively with UPRR and developed numerous alternatives for track configuration to support the station designs. This included alternatives for maintaining existing industry connections where applicable.  UPRR has continuously updated its CAD and design standards and JMA has adapted quickly to these changes to ensure complete submittals in a timely manner. 

Additionally, JMA is leading the Ceres to Turlock Double Tracking segment as Prime. This Project includes construction of new track and track upgrades to provide a continuous second mainline track along the UPPR Fresno Subdivision stretching approximately 6 miles. The project also includes improvements to 11 at-grade crossings.

The Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) initiated a Rail Safety Enhancement Program (RSEP) to improve 45 at-grade crossings throughout Alameda County involving 8 local agencies. ACTC has elected to divide the crossings into two groups, RSEP A and RSEP B for funding purposes. The project is currently evaluating improvements for RSEP A which includes 29 at-grade crossings.

JMA is responsible for preparing the crossing improvements designs for crossings located in Berkeley, San Lorenzo, and Hayward. The crossing improvements follow UPRR standards and include pedestrian channelization behind existing vehicular crossing gates, installation of pedestrian gates with emergency swing gates, installation of additional crossing panels, roadway medians, roadway signage and striping, maintenance access for UPRR vehicles, and evaluation of bulb-outs, lighting, and queuing.

JMA conducted site-diagnostic meetings with all respective stakeholders for each of its crossings and secured stakeholder concurrence on conceptual designs for 7 crossings and 1 trespass location. Design was completed in 2024.