Stockton Diamond

{{Short description|Major railroad junction in California}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Stockton Diamond}} The '''Stockton Diamond''' is a [[railway junction]] just south of downtown [[Stockton, California]], near the intersection of Aurora Street South and East Scotts Avenue. It is the junction where the north–south running [[Union Pacific]] [[Fresno Subdivision]] line crosses the east–west [[BNSF]] [[Stockton Subdivision]],<ref name=Goldeen>{{cite news |last1=Goldeen |first1=Joe |title=Feds chip in $20M for major Stockton railroad project |url=https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2020/09/20/stockton-rail-project-awarded-20-m-federal-grant/5846852002/ |accessdate=11 October 2020 |work=The Record |date=20 September 2020}}</ref> both [[double-track railway]]s. Freight trains operate through the intersection 24 hours a day; [[Altamont Corridor Express]] and [[Amtrak California]] ''[[Gold Runner]]'' passenger trains also utilize the junction. Two of the sides of the "diamond" are complete and allow interchanges between the north-east and south-west legs.

==Grade separation== By 2020 the junction was the most congested in California,<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wanek-Libman |first1=Mischa |title=The Stockton Diamond project lands $20-million BUILD grant |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/article/21154192/the-stockton-diamond-project-lands-20million-build-grant |accessdate=11 October 2020 |magazine=Mass Transit |date=15 September 2020}}</ref> with the level-crossing design contributing to delays throughout the state's rail network. As part of the [[Valley Rail (ACE)|Valley Rail]] project, the [[San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission]] (SJRRC) and the [[California Department of Transportation]] (Caltrans) will [[Grade separation|grade separate]] the intersection, which will add capacity for future passenger rail expansion and reduce crossing interference. The Union Pacific line will be elevated above the BNSF line; construction is scheduled to start in 2023 and planned to complete in May 2026.<ref name=Goldeen />

The north–south flyover tracks will be constructed approximately {{cvt|200|ft}} to the east of the existing UP Fresno Subdivision, from the UP Stockton Yard to the at-grade crossing at Weber Avenue. Tracks will begin to rise at Lafayette Street and return to grade after Charter Way; a large retaining wall will be constructed between Charter and Church. Road traffic on Charter, Hazelton, and Scotts will be grade-separated under new rail bridges, while the existing at-grade crossings at Church and Lafayette would be closed.<ref name=FEIR>{{cite report |url=https://www.stocktondiamond.com/documents/Volume%201%20(Executive%20Summary%20through%20Chapter%203.6).pdf |title=Final Environmental Impact Report, State Clearinghouse #2020080321 |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=June 2021}}</ref>{{rp|ES-8 to ES-13}} When complete, the project also will finish all four sides of the diamond.<ref name=FEIR/>{{rp|2-21}}

==See also== *[[Colton Crossing]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{cite web |url=https://stocktondiamond.com/ |title=Stockton Diamond grade separation project |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA)}}

[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in San Joaquin County, California]] [[Category:Buildings and structures under construction in the United States]] [[Category:Rail junctions in the United States]] [[Category:BNSF Railway]] [[Category:Union Pacific Railroad]] [[Category:2026 in rail transport]] [[Category:Stockton, California]]