Editing Wasatch Front (section)

== Transportation ==
[[File:Utah Lake by boat.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|[[Mount Timpanogos]], in the Wasatch Range, viewed from Utah Lake. Several Wasatch Front cities lie between these natural features.]]
[[Ogden, Utah|Ogden]] has served as a major railway hub through much of its history. The [[First transcontinental railroad]] was constructed between 1863 and 1869, with the tracks reaching Ogden on March 27, 1869. Trains heading east from Ogden must negotiate the highest reaches of eastern Utah, travelling through [[Weber Canyon|Weber]] and Echo Canyons and over the [[Wasatch Range|Wasatch Pass]] at an elevation of 6,792 feet.

[[Union Pacific]] has operated the world's most powerful locomotives to haul freight over the Wasatch Mountains between [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne]] and Ogden, including [[American Locomotive Company]]'s famous [[Union Pacific Big Boy|"Big Boys"]], the world's largest steam locomotive; [[General Electric|GE's]] [[Union Pacific GTELs|Gas Turbines]] known as the "Big Blows" (because of their distinctive sound), the world's most powerful internal combustion locomotive; and [[General Motors|GM's]] [[EMD DDA40X|"Big Jacks"]], the most powerful single-unit diesel locomotive type ever built.

Transportation issues within the metropolitan area have been complicated by the narrow north–south orientation of the valley, constrained by the natural barriers on both sides, and the rapid growth of the region.

The primary modes of transport for the area are [[Interstate 15 in Utah|Interstate 15]] (I‑15) and [[U.S. Route 89 in Utah|U.S. Route 89]] (US‑89), both of which run down its center from north to south for the full length of about {{convert|120|mi|km}}. Other [[interstates]] and [[highways]] provide transportation routes to local areas within the Wasatch Front. Such transportation routes include [[Interstate 84 in Utah|Interstate 84]] in the Ogden area; the Legacy Parkway ([[Utah State Route 67|State Route 67]]) running north–south through western Davis County; [[Interstate 80 in Utah|Interstate 80]] running east–west through Salt Lake City; [[Interstate 215 (Utah)|Interstate 215]] (I‑215) circling the inner Salt Lake Valley; the Mountain View Corridor ([[Utah State Route 85|State Route 85]]), Bangerter Highway ([[Utah State Route 154|State Route 154]]), and [[Utah State Route 201|State Route 201]] to the west of Salt Lake City;  [[U.S. Route 189 (Utah)|U.S. Route 189]] through Provo, and [[U.S. Route 6 in Utah|U.S. Route 6]] in southern Utah County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapquest.com/us/utah/utah-282094692|title=Utah - Map of Cities in UT - MapQuest|website=www.mapquest.com}}</ref>

The [[Utah Transit Authority]] provides bus and [[light rail]] (TRAX) service to most of the urban areas within the Wasatch Front. Additionally, a double-decker [[Commuter rail in North America|commuter rail]] line ''[[FrontRunner]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rideuta.com/sitecore/content/home/404?item=%2fprojects%2fcommuterrail%2fdefault&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=website|title=404|website=www.rideuta.com}}</ref> running from North Ogden to Provo, is in full operation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.udot.utah.gov/legacy/|title=Utah Department of Transportation Legacy Parkway page}}</ref>

The ''[[California Zephyr]]'' of [[Amtrak]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/home/|title=Amtrak home page}}</ref> is the primary rail transport leading in and out of the Wasatch Front, having a station in [[Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub|Salt Lake City]] and [[Provo station (Amtrak)|Provo]].

[[Salt Lake City International Airport]] serves as the primary airport for the region. [[Ogden-Hinckley Airport]] and [[Provo Municipal Airport]] also provide scheduled commercial air service.

{{wide image|Wasatchfront.jpg|2793px|The Salt Lake Valley urban area, part of the Wasatch Front. The [[Wasatch Range]] prevents the Wasatch Front from expanding further eastward.}}