The project will conduct development activities for a future construction project to consolidate two rail corridors into one, abandon 7 miles of rail line, and discontinue 19 rail crossings in central…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) a $9.378 million Project Grant under the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program (CFDA 20.327) on May 1, 2025, for development activities supporting a future construction project in central Utah. The grant funds preliminary engineering, environmental review, and design work to consolidate two Union Pacific Railroad mainline tracks (Provo-1 and Provo-2) that currently pass through Spanish Fork, Mapleton, and Springville, Utah. The project will eliminate 19 at-grade rail crossings and abandon 7 miles of rail line, with completion targeted for February 28, 2029.

The development activities are intended to reduce safety conflicts and improve mobility by consolidating the parallel rail corridors—particularly the Provo-2 line that runs through city centers and parallels U.S. Highway 6—and eliminating multiple at-grade crossings that currently impede access to major roads, schools, and residential areas. This grant represents the planning and design phase necessary to advance toward the eventual grade separation and track consolidation construction project.

The project will conduct development activities for a future construction project to consolidate two rail corridors into one, abandon 7 miles of rail line, and discontinue 19 rail crossings in central utah. The union pacific railroads (up) provo subdivision consists of two mainline tracks that pass through the cities of spanish fork, mapleton, and springville, utah. The provo-1 main line (provo-1) lies east of the spanish fork, west of mapleton, and passes through the springville city limits. The provo-2 main line (provo-2) goes through the middle of the cities of spanish fork and springville and parallels U.S. Highway 6 (US-6), which is a major highway. Both rail lines have several at-grade crossings within city limits that must be crossed to access US-6, other major roads, schools, and residential areas.