Governor Cox says Utah may increase passenger rail service in time for Olympics

Gov. Spencer Cox said he has discussed the possibility of building more passenger rail in Utah with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

If Salt Lake City decides to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, hosting it could involve new infrastructure upgrades across Utah. But does that include improvements to passenger rail service?

Gov. Spencer Cox asked such questions Tuesday night during a virtual town hall.

“I'll tell you, I'm a big fan of passenger rail. I think we need more passenger rail,” Cox replied.

Cox said he met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg while in the nation's capital for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, of which he is president. The governor told his social media audience that he spoke specifically about passenger rail. “What that looks like, federal investment, and how we can make more of that happen in Salt Lake.”

Once Cox is done signing (or vetoing) the hundreds of bills passed during the 2024 legislative session, he will join Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, He said he plans to sit down with state Senate President Stuart Adams and others to develop a long-term policy. A vision for the state and how we can expand access to rail travel.

The governor said a rail line connecting Salt Lake City and Park City likely won't happen for another 10 years, but leaders will likely consider the so-called “Rio Grande Plan.” The effort will restore rail service to the historic Rio Grande Depot in downtown Salt Lake City, burying rail lines and minimizing the physical separation between the capital's east and west sides.

City leaders have already indicated they are seriously considering the plan.

“We want to get all ideas on the table,” Cox said. “We really want to dream big and imagine how we can make generational investments.”