UIPA Board Approves $500K for Rail Yard Relocation

Utah Inland Port Authority

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Inland Port Authority Board approved $500,000 in funding for a rail project to reduce rail crossing congestion in Salt Lake City's West Side.

Over the course of the project, crews will relocate the main East Yard of the Patriot Rail Salt Lake Garfield and Western Railway (SLGW) to a new West Interchange located south of Salt Lake City Airport in an effort to reduce the number of blocked rail crossings. The project builds on larger initiatives taken by Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) to align investment in infrastructure with economic development and environmental stewardship. As of reporting, crews are working on utility work. Construction to move the yard out of downtown Salt Lake City is slated to begin this year.

In 2018, the USDOT awarded the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) a $13.65 million grant, UIPA reports. This grant, awarded to UDOT as program manager for the Northwest Quadrant Freight Mobility Project, “anchors this shift of SLGW rail switching movements” out of the area.

Since then, the project’s estimated cost has increased to more than $31 million. A contribution from UIPA will reportedly offset these additional costs and ensure the project moves forward. UIPA’s participation in this project underscores its priorities identified in the Northwest Quadrant Baseline Study and Preferred Scenarios. This Baseline Study worked to understand conditions located within and adjacent to land under UIPA’s jurisdiction and understand the impacts of potential developments.

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Patriot Rail CEO Brandy Christian said, “We appreciate UIPA, UDOT, Salt Lake City, and USDOT for helping move this practical, high-impact project forward. . . Rail is a critical part of the Westside’s industrial and logistics network, supporting the economic growth and market demand across the region. At the same time, it is equally important that we maintain smooth, safe connectivity for both vehicle traffic and rail operations. By relocating SLGW’s interchange and yard activity farther west, we can achieve a more efficient rail operation while reducing congestion at neighborhood crossings.”

UDOT Commissioner Carlos Braceras said, “This project represents years of coordination among UDOT, the Federal Railroad Administration, Patriot Rail and local partners to address a long-standing transportation issue on Salt Lake City’s West Side. . . This effort will improve safety, mobility and reliability for both residents and freight users.”

“This is exactly the kind of targeted infrastructure project UIPA was created to support. . . It solves a real transportation challenge for West Side residents while strengthening the freight network that serves Utah businesses. It also reflects what we heard through the Northwest Quadrant Baseline Study and Preferred Scenarios: investments in this area need to improve mobility, air quality, safety and quality of life alongside economic development,” said Utah Inland Port Authority Board Chair Abby Osborne.