Blackstone-McKinley rail project advances, businesses must vacate by 2026

The last businesses at Blackstone and McKinley, including the Dutch Bros near Fresno City College, are expected to vacate by the end of 2026 as Fresno pushes ahead with its rail grade-separation project. Public Works Director Scott Mozier expects utility relocation and bridge construction in 2027.

The project will eliminate two at-grade crossings by dropping North Blackstone Avenue and East McKinley Avenue under the BNSF mainline. The work is meant to improve multimodal access, safety, freight operations and on-time performance for Fresno’s Bus Rapid Transit service, while also easing congestion for people heading to Fresno City College and the surrounding neighborhood. The crossings carry CPUC IDs 002-1000.00 and 002-1000.10, with DOT IDs 028573P and 028574W.

The Fresno County Transportation Authority first awarded $35.1 million in Measure C money for environmental clearance, design and land acquisition. City Council later approved an amendment raising the cooperative agreement to $58.5 million, and a 2025 city item added another $8 million, bringing that agreement to no more than $66.5 million. Project materials put the total cost at about $75 million and identify it as the only current project funded by Measure C’s grade-separation program.

City records show fee acquisition was sought for the property at 1825 North Blackstone Avenue, APN 446-232-39S, and City Council authorized eminent-domain action affecting three parcels tied to the rebuild. The City of Fresno also awarded AECOM Technical Services, Inc. a professional engineering contract for design and construction documents.

The State Center Community College District backed the project because of its impact on access to Fresno City College, where the Blackstone-McKinley crossing has long slowed traffic and complicated movement for cars, bikes and pedestrians.