METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

STV Tapped to Join Progressive Design-Build Team for UTA Rail Expansion 

The nearly $1 billion FrontRunner 2X project is a transformative investment to modernize and expand the 89-mile commuter rail corridor between Ogden and Provo.

February 12, 2026
UTA FrontRunner vehicles.

Working as a subconsultant to Horrocks Engineers, STV is leading the double-track design for two FrontRunner 2X corridor segments between the Vineyard, Provo, and Orem stations.

Credit:

UTA

2 min to read


  • STV has been selected to join a progressive design-build team for the UTA FrontRunner rail expansion project.
  • The FrontRunner 2X project is valued at nearly $1 billion and aims to upgrade and extend the commuter rail service.
  • The expansion will enhance the 89-mile rail corridor connecting Ogden and Provo.

*Summarized by AI

Consulting firm STV announced it was selected to support the expansion of Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) FrontRunner commuter rail system.

UTA’s FrontRunner System

The nearly $1 billion FrontRunner 2X project is a transformative investment to modernize and expand the 89-mile commuter rail corridor between Ogden and Provo.

Ad Loading...

Led by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and in partnership with UTA and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), the program will add double track in 11 strategic locations, easing bottlenecks and increasing operational flexibility. It will also include 10 new trains, a new maintenance facility, signaling and infrastructure upgrades, targeted track realignments, and a new station in Bluffdale.

Together, these improvements will raise system capacity by more than 50%, cut wait times in half to 15 minutes during peak service and 30 minutes during off-peak service, and improve travel time reliability, according to the agency.

STV’s Role

Working as a subconsultant to Horrocks Engineers, STV is leading the double-track design for two corridor segments between the Vineyard, Provo, and Orem stations.

STV will provide detailed engineering and constructability-focused design solutions that support efficient project delivery. The firm was selected for its deep rail engineering expertise and long-standing experience working with both UTA and Union Pacific Railroad.

Horrocks is part of the progressive design-build team led by the joint venture of Stacy Witbeck and Ralph L. Wadsworth, called FrontRunner Forward Partners, which is delivering the corridor-wide improvements for UTA.

Ad Loading...

“FrontRunner is the backbone of Utah’s regional transit network, and this expansion represents a generational investment in connecting communities along the Wasatch Front,” said Heath Therrien, VP/regional alternative delivery director at STV. “We are proud to bring our national rail expertise to the design-build team, supporting UTA and UDOT’s vision for more frequent, reliable, and sustainable rail service for riders.”

Addressing Regional Growth

The FrontRunner expansion supports Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s long-range transportation plan to address unprecedented population growth, reduce roadway congestion, and expand transit options.

Construction will proceed in phases through 2030 while maintaining FrontRunner service.

Quick Answers

The FrontRunner 2X project is a transformative investment valued at nearly $1 billion aimed at modernizing and expanding the 89-mile commuter rail corridor between Ogden and Provo.

*Summarized by AI

Ad Loading...
Topics:Rail

More Rail

MTA Advances Accessibility Improvements in Brooklyn
Paratransitby StaffJune 17, 2026

New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility

Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.

Read More →
Six-Year Plan Boosts Virginia Transit, Rail Investments
Managementby StaffJune 17, 2026

Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail

Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.

Read More →
Security and Safetyby StaffJune 16, 2026

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades

Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An LA Metro D Line train in Union Station
Managementby StaffJune 16, 2026

D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System

Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.

Read More →
A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering of the Amtrak New York Penn Station renovation
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.

Read More →
Groundbreaking event for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 TBM construction.
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.

Read More →
A man sits in a passenger rail seat and looks at his phone.
Railby Elora HaynesJune 8, 2026

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow

What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →