The FrontRunner 2X project, which includes additional double-tracking along the route, is well underway in the planning stages, and officials are offering an update on its progress.

UDOT Director of Trails and Transit Josh Van Jura told the Standard-Examiner on Thursday the FrontRunner 2X effort will effectively double the amount of the system that is currently double-tracked.

“Currently, the total system is about 82 miles long and 26% of it is double tracked,” he said. “That’s roughly a quarter. And with this next project, we actually plan to add 11 more sections of double-tracking. … With these additional 11 areas that will be double-tracked, that will bring the total amount of double-tracking to 58% of the total system.”

He said this project will go a long way toward boosting frequency and capacity on the FrontRunner line.

“By adding more double-track to the system, we’ll be able to run a higher level of frequencies,” he said. “The real goal of the FrontRunner 2X project is actually to double the service — hence the ‘2X’ in the name. That will increase the service in the peak hours, both morning and night — essentially rush hour — from the existing 30-minute service to 15-minute frequency. And then in those off-peak hours, it’s currently 60 minutes between trains. With this double-tracking, we’ll be able to reduce that to 30 minutes.”

Van Jura said that the FrontRunner 2X project is making progress into the planning stages.

“We’ve hired a progressive design builder,” he said. “This is a company that will finalize the design and then we’ll hopefully go into construction assuming that we get good construction bids, but we’re making great progress.”

He said the hope is to have the double-tracking complete and additional services implemented in 2030.

“Between then and now, we hope to start construction in some early packages in 2026, probably late next summer,” he said.

While federal funding for projects nationwide has been in a volatile state of late, Van Jura said he isn’t worried about FrontRunner 2X or any other future projects on the FrontRunner being adversely impacted at the moment.

“Certainly, federal funding is never a sure thing in any administration,” he said. “But we feel that this project is a real asset to the citizens of Utah. Sec. Duffy had the opportunity to come out, we described the project to him, he had the opportunity to ride FrontRunner, he seemed really positive about Utah’s history of delivering both roadway and transit projects on time and within budget. Again, I think we have a great opportunity because of that support, but the bottom line is this is just a good project for the citizens of Utah, and I think that’s very clear to the Federal Transit Administration.”

While the double-tracking effort is getting under way, other FrontRunner expansion projects will be waiting in the wings.

Van Jura said plans to expand service between Ogden and Brigham City are still well over the horizon.

“We aren’t actively working on that,” he said. “That is within UDOT’s unified long-range plan. It’s something that we recognize, with the state’s growth, will be needed in the future.”

However, while he said the FrontRunner 2X project is the main focus for the moment, he said there is movement on expansion plans between Provo and Payson.

“It’s currently within the (National Environmental Policy Act) process,” he said. “We hope to have that done in the next couple of years.”

For more information on the FrontRunner 2x project, visit https://frontrunner2x.utah.gov/.