OVERVIEW
THE TRAIN BOX
We propose a ‘Train Box’ for downtown Salt Lake City, which is just what it sounds like: a big concrete box, dug down into the ground, that is big enough to hold multiple railroad tracks. Many such structures exist in the United States, most famously in Reno, NV (2 miles long), and Los Angeles (10 miles long). Even though our proposed box in Salt Lake City would be shorter than either of these (just 1 mile between 900 South and 100 South), it would bring enormous benefits to our languishing Depot and Granary Districts.
With tracks below-ground, 4 deadly at-grade crossings could be closed. Rail Service could return to the Rio Grande Depot, which served as the city’s main rail hub until 1999, when the tracks were pulled up. Multiple road bridges could be reduced in length or completely eliminated, allowing east and west Salt Lake City to reunite in a way they have not been able to ever since the tracks first arrived in the 1870’s. Most importantly, the 50 acres of land currently occupied by the rail yards west of town could be redeveloped into a new urban neighborhood; this new development would potentially be enough to pay off the cost of constructing the box in the first place, making the Rio Grande Plan entirely self-funding.
THE FUTURE OF TRANSIT
The Rio Grande Plan is the first step towards a more comprehensive downtown rail transit network. Salt Lake City is already well-served by three light rail lines. The Rio Grande Depot is well positioned to fit into the existing routes and help the transit system expand further west to encompass all of downtown. Walkability is also a major draw for the downtown area. Salt Lake Central Station is currently too far from the rest of downtown to be reached on foot alone. The Rio Grande Depot, however, is within walking distance of most major downtown destinations. More people engaging in active transportation will bring greater activity on the streets and sidewalks, bringing much-needed street life back to Salt Lake City.
THE TEAM
The Rio Grande Plan has been called a Citizen Proposal. This means that the city did not ask for this study to be done – we did out ourselves because we love our city and we have a vision for what it can become that we want to share with everyone.
CHRISTIAN LENHART
Christian is a professional civil engineer working on local transportation projects. He has contributed to such projects as the UVX and OGX Bus Rapid Transit lines in Provo and Ogden, the Mountain View Corridor, and the West Davis Corridor. A graduate of BYU, he brings work experience from other industries, such as the Utah Transit Authority and the Walt Disney Company. He currently lives in Salt Lake City, and is a daily commuter on TRAX.
CAMERON BLAKELY
Cameron Blakely graduated with a degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning from Utah State University. He is a designer at the firm LOCI in Salt Lake City, working on a range of project types and scales from park design to urban revitalization. He has worked on several large scale planning efforts including Daybreak in South Jordan and the Ogden Masterplan as a senior in 2019. He is passionate about transportation planning, walkability, and creating successful urban spaces. He currently lives in Salt Lake City where he walks to work and serves as Emerging Professionals Chair for the Utah ASLA.
MATT GIVENS
Matt grew up in Ogden, Utah and received a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Utah in 2017. While living in Salt Lake’s Central City neighborhood, he was a daily rider of TRAX and saw both the drawbacks and potential of SLC’s transit network. Although not an urban planner by trade, he maintains a strong interest in cities and transportation and is very active in the SLC urban development conversation. After finishing a PhD in aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado, Matt recently moved back to Utah and currently resides in Murray where he now serves on the Murray City Center District Review Board.
FREDERICK JENNY
Frederick grew up in Columbus Ohio and recieved his electrical engineering degree from Valparaiso University in 2016. He moved to Salt Lake City the same year and lived in the Central City neighborhood. After completing his Masters in Systems Engineering Frederick began to look for more ways to help fix the urban development in SLC. Frederick became involved in the Rio Grande Plan after seeing how much the project could do for the city he now calls home.
NATHAN STRAIN
Nathan Grew up in Provo Utah and Laie Hawaii. He received a degree in Environmental Studies from Utah State University. Nathan works in Salt Lake City’s Ballpark Neighborhood as an IT Technician. He is an outspoken advocate for public transportation and passenger rail.