Davis County commissioners received a briefing Tuesday, July 28, on the $3.2 billion FrontRunner 2X Project, a plan to double commuter rail frequency along the Wasatch Front that would bring construction and faster service to the Woods Cross and West Bountiful corridor.
Commissioner Bob Stevenson placed the 30-minute presentation by Utah Transit Authority and Utah Department of Transportation officials on the work session agenda, according to the Davis County Clerk's Office posting). The session began at 8:30 a.m. at the Davis County Administration Building in Farmington.
What the project means locally
Two Davis County segments are slated for double-tracking: a 2.1-mile stretch from the Woods Cross FrontRunner station north to West Bountiful, and a 3.8-mile section north of Clearfield Station to Sunset. KSL reported in October 2024 that the Woods Cross-to-West Bountiful segment would be the "hardest-hit area" for construction impacts, requiring relocation of utilities, power poles, and some buildings across an estimated 73.4 acres.
For Bountiful, North Salt Lake, and West Bountiful residents who use the Woods Cross station, the payoff is shorter waits. Peak-hour frequency would drop from 30 minutes to 15 minutes, and off-peak service from 60 minutes to 30 minutes, according to a UTA fact sheet.
The numbers
The full project spans 26.1 miles of added double track across 11 locations between Ogden and Provo, plus 10 new trainsets, a new maintenance facility, a new station in Bluffdale, and signal upgrades. UTA projects ridership will jump 53%.
Total cost: $3.2 billion.
Of that, $2.1 billion is sought from the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grants Program, with $1.1 billion in local funding. UDOT submitted a $2.4 billion funding request to the FTA, and Utah officials have said they want the line running before the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
"Certainly, we want to see it well before the Olympics because it's a game-changer," UTA Executive Director Jay Fox said at a Transit Day event at the Utah Capitol on June 18.
Federal funding uncertainty
The federal grant remains unsigned. The Trump administration has not signed a single new Capital Investment Grants agreement since returning to office, leaving more than $7 billion unobligated nationwide, according to a Seattle Times report published July 27.
Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber, told the Seattle Times on July 27 that the federal stall is "just a little bit anathema to me," saying the program should be getting money to projects that are ready.
What's already in motion
Davis County commissioners approved an agreement with UDOT in October 2024 allowing nearly $1 billion in FrontRunner corridor upgrades to proceed in the county. Utah officials also selected Swiss manufacturer Stadler to build at least 10 new diesel-powered trains under a proposed $328.3 million contract, though the deal had not been finalized as of July 20, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
The project timeline calls for design through 2026, construction from 2026 to 2029, and completion in 2030.
Minutes from the July 28 work session have not yet been posted. Residents can track Davis County Commission agendas and minutes at the county clerk's website.
