Infrastructure Criss-crossed by major interstates that connect the east and west coasts of the U.S. and link Mexico and Canada, and home to the ceremonial Golden Spike of 1869, Utah is known as the Crossroads of the West. The state hosts a robust distribution hub that includes a major international airport and an active, interconnected rail network. The state is also renowned for its extensive broadband internet and telecommunications networks. In 1969, the University of Utah was one of the original four ARPANET nodes, which grew to become the world-wideweb. Today, mega-users from eBay to Facebook to the National Security Agency have spent billions building data centers in Utah. The Salt Lake International Airport is the 23rd busiest airport in North America and the world’s 85th busiest.* SLC maintains a strong on-time airplane performance record. Utah is a one-day truck drive or less from almost every major city in the western United States. In terms of availability, according to BroadbandNow.com, Utah’s broadband performance excels. Ninety-six percent of Utahns have access to a 25 Mbps wired internet connection. Broadband in many rural areas of the state is equal to or may even exceed speeds found on the Wasatch Front. Seventy-five percent of the population along the Wasatch Front lives within three miles of a major transit stop. The area has 136 total operational miles of commuter and light rail. The mean travel time to work in Utah is 21.6 minutes, compared to the national mean of 25.9.
Salt Lake’s Relative Location To Other Major Metropolitan Areas City
Highway Miles
Denver Las Vegas Los Angeles Phoenix San Diego San Francisco Seattle
535 425 689 663 750 736 840
Driving Time
Flying Time
8.5 Hours 6.5 Hours 11 Hours 11.5 Hours 12 Hours 12 Hours 13.5 Hours
1 Hour 1 Hour 1.5 Hours 1.5 Hours 1 Hour 2 Hours 2 Hours
Source: www.slcgov.com/economic-development/transportation * Pre-pandemic data.
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