[citation needed] Sustained drought in Utah has more recently strained the region's water security, causing the Great Salt Lake to drop to record low levels,[2][3] and affecting the state’s economy, of which the Wasatch Front constitutes 80%.

Trains heading east from Ogden must negotiate the highest reaches of eastern Utah, travelling through Weber and Echo Canyons and over the Wasatch Pass at an elevation of 6,792 feet.

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 (I‑15) and U.S. Route 89 (US‑89), both of which run down its center from north to south for the full length of about 120 miles (190 km).

[10] The Utah Transit Authority provides bus and light rail (TRAX) service to most of the urban areas within the Wasatch Front.

[12] The California Zephyr of Amtrak[13] is the primary rail transport leading in and out of the Wasatch Front, having a station in Salt Lake City and Provo.

Much of the remaining undeveloped land is rapidly being developed, and local governments have grappled with problems of urban sprawl and other land-use concerns.