UDOT, UTA clear another hurdle in plan to make major, time-saving FrontRunner upgrade

FARMINGTON, Utah — Davis County leaders have signed on to a master utility agreement in connection to UDOT and UTA’s plan to upgrade the FrontRunner throughout the Wasatch Front.

The FrontRunner 2X project seeks to add double tracks to several different stretches of the railway from the Weber/Davis County line down to American Fork.

The goal is to reduce wait times and help the train run more efficiently. With double tracks, trains can run in each direction at the same time.

“For people to be able to move freely throughout the state, all components of transportation have to work and have to be firing on all cylinders,” said UDOT Spokesperson Mitch Shaw.

Right now, only 26% of the FrontRunner’s path from Ogden to Provo has double tracks. This contributes to wait times since trains occasionally have to stop to allow other trains to pass.

The project would give the FrontRunner double tracks on 49% of its total path. Shaw said this would reduce wait times during peak hours from 30 to 15 minutes.

“I think that’s a lot more appealing to people. I think that would give people who have maybe hesitated to use FrontRunner in the past, that gives them a really good reason to use it.”

The plan is to add double tracks between Clearfield and Roy, Woods Cross and Centerville, and six other stretches between Salt Lake and American Fork.

The project has an estimated price tag of $966 million. Federal sources, like grants, will cover 70% of that price tag. Thirty percent of the funds will come from local funding including sales tax, according to the project website.

Construction is expected to start in 2026 with a projected completion of 2030.

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