Advocacy in the Beehive State

Guest blog from our friends at The Rio Grande Plan

The Rio Grande Plan is a visionary, citizen-driven initiative first introduced in late 2020 by Salt Lake City residents Christian Lenhart and Cameron Blakely. This ambitious project aims to revitalize the west side of downtown Salt Lake City, with the historic Rio Grande Depot—a landmark rail station—as its focal point. The plan proposes rerouting the railroad tracks currently located on the west side of downtown to a reconstructed alignment along 500 West. As part of this transformation, the tracks would be relocated underground into a below-grade structure known as a "Train Box," enhancing safety, connectivity, and the potential for urban redevelopment.

Figure 1 Proposed Original Rio Grande Plan Train Box

A "Train Box" is a below-grade concrete structure designed to house railroad tracks. In this system, rails are laid within the enclosed structure, enabling trains to pass through downtown without disrupting surface-level activity. The Train Box proposed by the Rio Grande Plan would feature six tracks and an adjacent service road for maintenance, accommodating both passenger and freight trains.

Implementing the Rio Grande Plan would eliminate up to eight at-grade crossings in Salt Lake City—sites regularly prone to accidents involving trains and the public. Tragically, since the inception of the Rio Grande Plan, these crossings have been linked to at least eight fatalities. The Train Box aims to significantly improve safety while enhancing the efficiency of rail operations through the city.

Figure 2 Oct. 30, 2023 Collision Between Cyclist and FrontRunner Commuter Train

The relocation of the railroad tracks as proposed by the Rio Grande Plan would remove a longstanding physical and symbolic barrier between the east and west sides of Salt Lake City—a divide that has persisted since the arrival of the rails in 1870. Salt Lake City’s Transportation Division has identified this East/West divide as the “single largest transportation issue in the city.” The Rio Grande Plan presents a transformative means to ease this divide.

Recently, Salt Lake City was awarded funding through the federal government’s Reconnecting Communities Grant Program to conduct a study of the East/West divide and explore solutions. The Rio Grande Plan stands as the only proposed physical means to address this divide, but public engagement is critical to advocating for its adoption. More information about the Reconnecting Communities Study can be found here.

Beyond easing transportation challenges, the Rio Grande Plan also offers the opportunity to revitalize the historic Rio Grande Depot, a 114-year-old landmark built in 1910 by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Designed to surpass the grandeur of the nearby Union Pacific Depot, the Rio Grande Depot would reclaim its prominence under this plan. Meanwhile, its counterpart, the Union Pacific Depot, was recently repurposed as part of the Asher Adams Hotel. The reuse of the Rio Grande Depot under this plan would breathe new life into the Rio Grande Depot, a cherished piece of Salt Lake City's history.

Figure 3 The Asher Adams Hotel (2024)

The Rio Grande Depot has been devoid of rail service since 1999, when the tracks were removed to prepare for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Once home to Utah State offices, the building has remained closed since sustaining damage during the 2020 earthquake. Currently, it is undergoing seismic retrofitting and historic restoration, but its future purpose remains uncertain.

The Rio Grande Plan offers a compelling vision for restoring this historic landmark by transforming it into Utah’s Central Station. Under this plan, the depot would once again become a vibrant transportation hub, serving as a unified node for all forms of transit, including Amtrak intercity trains, FrontRunner commuter rail, and TRAX light rail. This initiative would not only preserve the depot’s historic significance but also position it as a cornerstone of Utah's modern transportation network.

Figure 4 One of the Last Amtrak Trains Departs the Rio Grande Depot (1999)

Relocating the rails into the newly constructed Train Box would unlock 76+ acres of underutilized land in downtown Salt Lake City, paving the way for transformative redevelopment. This newly available space would enable the creation of a vibrant, transit-oriented "Depot District" in the heart of the city. The district would be centered around the new Central Station, fostering a dynamic environment for homes, businesses, and community spaces. By integrating transit infrastructure with urban development, the Rio Grande Plan would promote sustainable growth and enhance connectivity within Salt Lake City.

Figure 5 The Rio Grande District-Post Rio Grande Plan

​​​​​​​Today, the Rio Grande Plan is in the early stages of adoption as an official government proposal. Salt Lake City’s Reconnecting Communities study, combined with the completed screening analysis have positioned the expanded citizen group, Via Rio Grande, into the role of advocates for the plan.

The project’s greatest challenge is its estimated cost, which ranges from $3 to $5 billion, as determined by a Screening Analysis conducted by engineering firm Kimley-Horn and funded by Salt Lake City. These financial requirements come at a time when state and federal budgets are under increasing pressure.

To address this challenge, Via Rio Grande has partnered with Utah State University (USU) to conduct an economic impact study on the Rio Grande Plan, which is currently in progress. However, the success of this initiative hinges on active community involvement.

Here’s how you can help:

• Volunteer: Join the Via Rio Grande Volunteer Corps by reaching out here.
• Advocate: Contact state and federal representatives to express your support for funding this project. Links to do this can be found in Via Rio Grande’s LinkTree.
• Sign: Support the plan by signing the petition on Change.org.
• Follow: Stay updated by following @riograndeplan on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to Christian Lenhart’s Youtube Channel.

What we need most right now is active advocacy; contacting elected officials, engaging with community members, and submitting organizational Letters of Support (examples available here). This citizen-driven effort can only succeed with the collective support of the community. Together, we can realize this vision in a timely manner and transform downtown Salt Lake City through the Rio Grande Plan.