At a recent House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, Congressman Burgess Owens of Utah emphasized the state’s infrastructure achievements. During the session with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Owens praised Utah’s transit systems, including the FrontRunner Commuter Rail and the Inland Port.
Owens remarked, “We are rated both number one, the number one state to live in, the best-run state in the U.S. in 2025. We collaborate between state, local, and federal like no other state. We finish our projects on time. We do it under budget, based on our Constitution. We have an inland port and one of the newest airports, which will make us the hub of the West.”
He advocated for ongoing support through the Capital Investment Grant program to enhance rail line reliability and suggested granting states more flexibility over rail projects similar to highway project management.
Secretary Duffy acknowledged Utah’s infrastructure efforts and showed willingness to consider increased delegation authority for such projects. Owens concluded by urging that Utah be seen as a model for national infrastructure reform.
