The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the Utah FrontRunner 2X Commuter Rail Line will enter the next stage in its construction: the engineering phase.
FTA pledged $1.28 billion in Capital Investment Grants (CIG) for the Utah DOT and the Utah Transit Authority to invest in engineering activities, demolition and utility relocation, property acquisition, and other non-construction costs, including equipment and materials procurement.
“This project is the latest example of how the Trump Administration is committed to delivering real support for real infrastructure that improves the lives of real Americans,” FTA Acting Deputy Administrator Matthew Cahill said. “As one of the fastest growing areas in the country, meeting this milestone demonstrates how Utah leadership cares about its citizens by investing in transit that will serve the region for generations to come.”
Once complete, officials said, the project is expected to increase the availability, frequency and capacity of commuter trains by 60 percent along the 82-mile FrontRunner rail that services 16 stations from Ogden to Provo.
“The FrontRunner Double Tracking Project is a transformative investment in Utah’s future,” U.S. Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) said. “This advancement brings us one step closer to delivering more frequent, reliable rail service for Utah families, and better-prepares our state and economy to welcome the world for the 2034 Winter Olympics.”
The CIG program is a multi-step, multi-year funding opportunity to help with transformational transit projects across the country. Once all of the financial, technical, and legal requirements are completed, FTA’s anticipated CIG funding commitment for the project will be $1.28 billion, subject to the annual appropriation of funds by Congress. The funds support 11 segments of double-tracking, one realigned segment, a new infill station, 10 new diesel multiple unit train sets, a new vehicle maintenance facility and signal upgrades.