User:Rollidan/sandbox/frontrunner

FrontRunner's current southern terminus is in the city of Provo, with the southernmost station being Provo. Although the official address of this station is 690 South University Avenue (US-189), it is actually located between 200 West and South University Avenue on the south side of the FrontRunner and Union Pacific railroad tracks which run immediately south of 600 South. This station is also just southwest of Amtrak's Provo Station, which is the third stop, after Green River and Helper for the California Zephyr. (Although this station is the southern terminus, the FrontRunner tracks continue east for almost a half a mile.) Heading west from this station, FrontRunner crosses 200 West (Freedom Boulevard), 500 West, and 700 West before it curves toward the north. After crossing 900 West at 500 South it heads northwest until it crosses under West Center Street (SR-114) just east of the I-15/Center Street interchange. It then crosses Draper Lane before crossing over the Provo River Parkway trail and the Provo River. Continuing northwest it crosses 820 North at 1950 West and then crosses under the "S curve" of I-15. Running along the west side of I-15 it crosses 1680 North at 2550 West, 2800 West just south of 2000 North, and 2000 North (Provo grid)/2000 South (Orem grid) just west of 2800 West. At 2000 North, FrontRunner leaves Provo and briefly enters unincorporated Utah County.

Continuing northwest, FrontRunner leaves unincorporated Utah County and enters the city of Orem at 1550 South before crossing under West University Parkway (SR-265) immediately west of the I-15/University Parkway interchange. At 900 South 1350 West it reaches the next station, Orem. This station is located on the west side of I-15 from most of the Utah Valley University campus. In June 2018, UTA, UVU, UDOT, Orem City, and MAG broke-ground on a new "first-of-its-kind" 1000-foot pedestrian bridge over Interstate-15 that will connect UVU's Main Campus to the Orem Intermodal Transit Center. With an estimated completion date of Fall 2020, the primarily UDOT funded project will connect Utah's largest university of 40,000 students directly to the Orem FrontRunner Station. The Utah Valley Express (UVX) bus line also connects the Provo and Orem FrontRunner stations. From this station (while I-15 heads directly north) FrontRunner maintains its northwestern course, crossing 800 South at 1300 West and then 400 South and Geneva Road (1600 West/SR-114) in quick succession. Upon crossing Geneva Road, FrontRunner leaves Orem and enters the city of Vineyard. Continuing northwest, with Vineyard Road briefly running on the west side of the tracks and the site of the former Geneva Steel on the east, where it reaches the Vineyard. The Vineyard Station is located on the west edge of a future UVU Vineyard campus. Heading further northwest it crosses Vineyard Road (5200 North/600 South) at 2000 West.

American Fork Station passenger platform.

Upon crossing Vineyard Road, FrontRunner leaves Vineyard, enters the city of Lindon, and briefly passes by the northeast shore of Utah Lake as it continues on its northwest course. FrontRunner then leaves Lindon and briefly enters unincorporated Utah County again before entering the city of American Fork at 1500 South and 700 East (6400 North and 5050 West on the Utah County grid). Maintaining its northwest course along the edge of American Fork's city limits, FrontRunner transitions between American Fork and unincorporated Utah County several times before it finally enters the city of Lehi. After crossing 1100 South at 425 East (5350 West on the Utah County grid), 5750 West at 7250 North (100 East at 575 South on the American Fork grid), and 100 West at 375 South, FrontRunner begins to curve toward a nearly due west course as it parallels I-15. It then crosses Storrs Avenue (about 265 West at 250 South) followed by 200 South at 390 West before reaching the next station, American Fork. The address of this station is 782 West 200 South (7750 on the Utah County grid).

Continuing on, FrontRunner enters Lehi just before crossing over Spring Creek and then directly underneath the intersection of Pioneer Crossing (SR-145) and Mill Pond Road (850 East). It briefly transitions back into unincorporated Utah County before crossing South Center Street at 560 South and entering Lehi once again. It then curves to a brief due north course as it crosses 200 South and West Main Street (SR-73), both at 400 West. At 100 North (as it passes the Lehi Round-up Rodeo Grounds on the west) it curves back to its previous northwestern course and crosses 500 West (SR-197) at 330 North. Continuing on a northwest course, FrontRunner transitions between Lehi City and unincorporated Utah County several times before it finally leaves Utah County. After crossing over Waste Ditch, it crosses 900 North at 1030 West and 1500 North (960 North on the Utah County grid) at 1630 West. It then crosses over the newly built 2100 North (Mountain View Corridor/SR-85) at 2050 West and then over 2300 West at 2275 North as it approaches Thanksgiving Point.

With Garden Drive on its immediate west, it reaches the next station, Lehi, in the middle of Thanksgiving Point (at approximately 3100 North and 2800 West). The given address of this station is 3101 North Ashton Boulevard, but it is also accessible directly from Executive Parkway. Just after that station it crosses under Clubhouse Drive and then passes to the east of Thanksgiving Point Gardens before curving to west and entering the Jordan Narrows. As passes through the Jordan Narrows, it briefly parallels the Jordan River on the south, with Camp Williams on the far side of the river further west. While passing through the Jordan Narrows, FrontRunner also leaves Lehi and Utah County and enters Salt Lake County.

The Jordan Narrows are the most scenic area along the entire the FrontRunner route and includes views that could not otherwise be readily seen (particularly from I-15). However this stretch, including the area immediately north, was also one of the most difficult to build. Prior to construction there was only a very narrow pass occupied by the Union Pacific tracks which are used multiple times each day. In addition, several irrigation canals had to be rerouted.