Future projects were selected to receive regional funds by the board in August, and a large portion of them are funded through the Utah County third-quarter sales tax funds. Last week, the Utah County Commission approved the 2026 final funding list for projects that will use these sales tax dollars.

They consist of 15 projects planned for the next four years, ranging from Saratoga Springs to Spanish Fork and everywhere in between.

While the Utah Department of Transportation funds larger transportation projects such as Interstate 15 and U.S. 6, these projects are often on city-owned roads or trails and are too expensive for a city to fund on its own.

Or, in some instances, there are projects on state roads that impact the local municipality and UDOT funding is not readily available. The S.R. 51 widening project from Dry Creek Parkway to Spanish Fork Parkway, approved for 2030 funding, falls under that category, according to a Springville official.

The two most expensive projects are for second phases of region-connecting road projects – a $20 million-plus Pony Express improvement project in American Fork and a $12 million-plus Loafer Mountain Parkway improvement near Salem to the south. There are also $10 million-plus projects going toward road infrastructure in rapidly-growing Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain.

County Commissioner Skyler Beltran, a member of the MPO board, said that this year, the funding available through the Transportation Improvement Program covered approximately half of the projects submitted to the board for consideration this year. He said they prioritized the projects that would have the greatest overall impact, using a scoring system that considers congestion relief, safety, connectivity, transportation mode and environmental impact, among other criteria.

The list, Beltran said, is reviewed by MAG’s Technical Advisory Committee and then goes before the MPO board for final adoption.

“I think this process results in the best possible outcomes given our limited resources,” Beltran said. “The goal is always to improve the movement of people and goods throughout the county and ultimately, improve the quality of life for our residents.”

The following projects were approved by the MPO board and were later approved by the county for future funding this year:

American Fork, Pony Express Extension Phase 2 

• Fund year: 2030
• County Funds: $20,195,080
• Local match: $1,466,489
• Total: $21,661,569

Utah County, Loafer Mountain Parkway Phase 2

• Fund year: 2030
• County funds: $12,501,407
• Local match: $907,804
• Total: $13,409,211

Springville, S.R. 51 widening from Dry Creek Parkway to Spanish Fork Parkway 

• Fund year: 2030
• County funds: $9,062,013
• Local match: $658,049
• Total: $9,720,062

Saratoga Springs, Pony Express Completion Project

• Fund year: 2029
• County funds: $10,572,587
• Local match: $767,741
• Total: $11,340,328

Eagle Mountain, Ranches Parkway, Cory B Wride Highway to Pony Express Parkway

• Fund year: 2029
• County funds: $10,517,677
• Local match: $763,753
• Total: $11,281,430

Lehi, Lehi 700 South roadway extension to 850 E. and Phase 3 cycle track 

• Fund year: 2029
• County funds: $7,337,146
• Local match: $532,796
• Total: $7,869,942

Orem, 800 S. Orem Boulevard Intersection Improvements

• Fund year: 2029
• County funds: $4,187,816
• Local match: $304,103
• Total: $4,491,919

Lehi, Lehi S.R. 92 Trail Bridge

• Fund year: 2029
• County funds: $4,164,209
• Local match: $302,389
• Total: $4,466,598

Lindon, Lindon 400 West, State Street to 200 South

• Fund year: 2029
• County funds: $2,616,270
• Local match: $189,984
• Total: $2,806,254

Spanish Fork, Spanish Fork Parkway/ U.S. 6 Intersection

• Fund year: 2029
• County funds: $2,586,854
• Local match: $187,848
• Total: $2,774,702

Saratoga Springs, Jordan River Trail – Market Street Connection

• Fund year: 2029
• County funds: $2,109,953
• Local match: $153,217
• Total: $2,263,170

Lehi, 2300 West Phase 2

• Fund year: 2027
• County funds: $10,079,401
• Local match: $731,927
• Total: $10,811,328

American Fork, Meadows Crossing Study 

• Fund year: 2027
• County funds: $233,075
• Local match: $16,925
• Total: $250,000

MAG, Utah Lakeshore Trail Study

• Fund year: 2027
• County funds: $186,460
• Local match: $13,540
• Total: $200,000

Elk Ridge, Payson Canyon Trail phase 2 feasibility study 

• Fund year: 2026
• County funds: $116,537
• Local match: $8,463
• Total: $125,000