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6/2/2026
The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) board has approved $500,000 in new funding to support the relocation of the Salt Lake Garfield and Western Railway’s (SLGW) East yard to a new interchange south of Salt Lake City Airport.
The project will dramatically reduce grade crossing congestion in Salt Lake City’s west side, UIPA officials said in a press release.
In 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $13.65 million grant to the Utah Department of Transportation to anchor the project. Since then, projected costs have increased to more than $31 million; SLGW, a Patriot Rail short line, was to bear all costs beyond the fixed federal share. UIPA’s contribution will offset these costs to ensure the project moves ahead, board officials said.
In February 2026, UIPA and Salt Lake City conducted a baseline study of the city's Northwest Quadrant. The study identified transportation, freight movement, air quality, public safety and neighborhood impacts as top priorities for Salt Lake City’s west side communities. Recommendations for priority investments were presented to the UIPA board and Salt Lake City Council in March.
“West Side residents have been clear that blocked crossings and industrial impacts affect daily life,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “This project is a tangible step toward addressing those concerns.”
In addition to benefiting residents by reducing blocked grade crossing frequency and duration, improving local traffic flow, and lowering localized emissions by reducing vehicle idling, the project will also give SLGW greater capacity to serve freight-rail shippers and decrease truck congestion on regional roads.
Utility work is underway; construction is expected to begin this year.