Salt Lake City/Spanish Fork — The Utah Transportation Commission approved additional funding on Wednesday for the Springville Sharp–Tintock railroad consolidation project after staff told commissioners project costs increased because of additional right‑of‑way needs and partial property impacts.

UDOT’s Region 3 director reported the consolidation will connect the Sharp line (owned by Union Pacific) to the Tintock line (owned by the Utah Transit Authority). The department says the physical rail connection would allow closure of six existing at‑grade crossings within Springville and Spanish Fork and support planned FrontRunner South station areas in Springville, Spanish Fork and Payson.

Why costs rose

Region staff told commissioners that the new rail alignment bisects a large parcel and that earlier project cost assumptions treated that parcel as agricultural. With the landowner exploring development options, the alignment change requires dual access for development standards and, consequently, additional acquisitions. Staff said the department currently anticipates acquiring approximately 50 acres of property that will be cut off from its existing access and that partial acquisitions along 18 residential properties are needed to address drainage and alignment details.

The staff presentation noted increased costs also stem from reconstructing an existing box‑culvert at Dry Creek that earlier concepts assumed could be reused.

Public comment earlier in the meeting flagged related local concerns: an online and in‑room commenter (speaking for a landowner group) told commissioners a connector needed for FrontRunner’s southward extension would cut off frontage and access on a roughly 143‑acre parcel and that delays increase development costs. The commenter asked the commission to make a decision to move the project forward.

Commission action and next steps

Commissioners moved and approved additional funding at the meeting; the motion was presented as a staff request to cover the revised right‑of‑way and construction estimates. Commissioners thanked staff for detailed briefings and noted the project’s community interest.

UDOT staff said they will continue to work with property owners, Union Pacific, UTA and local governments to finalize acquisitions and address drainage and access needs before construction proceeds.