STB Approves Savage Tooele Railroad Company to Construct 11 Miles of Rail in Utah
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of Savage Tooele Railroad Company
SALT LAKE CITY – Savage Tooele Railroad Company (STR) has approval to build and operate 11 miles of rail in Utah that will connect to Union Pacific Railroad.
Savage Tooele Railroad Company (STR) announced the Surface Transportation Board (STB) gave approval for STR to construct and operate 11 miles of rail in Tooele County, Utah. According to the press release, this includes the rehabilitation of existing track. This line will connect to UP “for tenants of the Lakeview Business Park in Grantsville, Utah, linking supply chains.” STR is one of the only new railroads that were approved in the U.S. and one of the first owned and operated by a Utah-based company in the history of Utah.
The approval from the STB comes after an Environmental Assessment conducted by the Office of Environmental Analysis. This assessment is subject to environmental mitigations, “which STR will incorporate in its design and operations.” According to the release, the STB decision states, “there has been a thorough environmental and historic review in this case” and concludes that “the Line will facilitate the diversion from trucks.” It also notes that the line provides more mode options for business park tenants.
Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox congratulated “Savage Tooele Railroad on the approval of their Tooele Valley rail project by the Surface Transportation Board. . . The historic nature of this project, including its positive economic and environmental impacts, will be a tremendous advantage for Utahns and our businesses for generations to come.”
Additionally, Savage President and CEO Kirk Aubry said, “We’re pleased that federal regulators recognize the transportation and environmental benefits the STR rail lines offers for Utah businesses and communities . . . As a Utah-headquartered company, we appreciate the many state and local leaders, and other stakeholders, who supported this project and look forward to safely and responsibly building and operating this new Utah-based railroad.”
