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WFRC approves TIP modification, adds state and local projects and programs for 2026 draft
Summary
The Wasatch Front Regional Council approved a board modification adding funds to three projects and programmed STP, CMAQ, TAP and CRP projects into the draft 2026 programs, noting demand far exceeds available federal formula funds.
The Wasatch Front Regional Council on May 22 approved a board modification to the 2025–2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and adopted programming recommendations for several federal funding programs that will be included in the draft 2026 TIP.
Mayor Mark Shepherd, reporting from the Transportation Coordinating Committee, presented three board modifications the council approved: an additional $500,000 to a Salt Lake City mobility/environmental analysis created under Senate Bill 195; $900,000 added to a Davis County project to modify an aging railroad overpass (the Bamberger railroad structure) at 500 West; and adoption of program‑level funding levels for state‑administered programs for fiscal year 2026 (staff cited roughly $666 million across state and federal programs in the upcoming year).
Ben Withrich, WFRC short‑range planning staff, described the Salt Lake City study as an assessment of impacts from highway‑reduction strategies implemented since 2015 and planned through early 2026, including traffic, pedestrians, air quality and economic impacts. The Bamberger project entails removing the old structure and raising the grade to create an at‑grade intersection, improving access and safety near nearby schools.
Separately, the council approved recommendations from Transcom to program federal formula funds in the Salt Lake and Ogden‑Layton urban areas across the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). Ben Withrich and staff summarized project scores and recommended projects, noting far more funding was requested than available: for example, requests in the Salt Lake urban area for STP alone exceeded $183 million against about $21.5 million available.
Council members and staff emphasized the funding gap and urged investment in core formula programs so local communities can implement locally critical projects. Andrew Gruber, WFRC executive director, and Carlos Braceras of UDOT said the disparity in requests versus available funds — worsened by inflation and rising project costs — is a driving reason WFRC and partners are lobbying Congress for greater formula funding and streamlined program administration.
