Sandy-area commuters who ride FrontRunner or connect from TRAX are one step closer to 15-minute peak service after the Federal Transit Administration approved the FrontRunner 2X project to enter its engineering phase on Friday, Aug. 7.

The approval is the critical federal gateway that must be cleared before the project can receive nearly $1.3 billion in Capital Investment Grant funding from the FTA. Without it, the expansion cannot proceed to a full funding grant agreement, which is now expected in 2027.

"For our riders, this project means shorter waits, more frequent trains, and a more dependable trip," UTA Executive Director Jay Fox said, according to ABC4.

What the project delivers

FrontRunner 2X, a joint effort between the Utah Transit Authority and the Utah Department of Transportation, will add 26.1 miles of double track at 11 locations along the corridor, build one new station, construct a new maintenance facility, realign track in one location and put 10 new trainsets into service. Once complete, trains will run every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes off-peak, according to the official project website.

That's a significant jump from the existing schedule. For Sandy-area riders who transfer from TRAX to FrontRunner, more frequent departures mean tighter connections and shorter total commute times to downtown Salt Lake City or points north.

As we reported July 21, Utah officials already awarded Stadler Rail a $328.3 million contract to build the 10 new trainsets. That procurement is a separate piece of the same FrontRunner 2X puzzle.

Timeline and what's next

Construction was originally planned to begin in 2026 but has slipped to 2027, Fox 13 reported. Work is now expected to run from 2027 through 2030, pending the full federal grant agreement.

UDOT Commissioner Carlos Braceras called the milestone "a major step forward for Utah," noting the state needs a balanced transportation system that goes beyond highways as population grows.

FTA Acting Deputy Administrator Matthew Cahill said the approval demonstrates investment in transit that will serve the region for generations.

FrontRunner carried more than 4 million riders in both 2024 and 2025. By 2050, FrontRunner travel times are projected to outperform I-15 travel times, according to the project website.

The next major milestone is the full funding grant agreement from the FTA, expected in 2027. No public comment period specific to this federal phase has been announced.