Rio Grande Plan

Rio Grande Plan The Rio Grande Plan is a citizen-led proposal to relocate and grade separate UTA Frontrunner and Union Pacific trains through Salt Lake City.

New tracks would be constructed in a below- grade structure called a “Train Box” along 500 West.

05/21/2026

Why build a bridge when you can build a neighborhood? 🏙️

In Salt Lake City, massive overpasses like the 4th South bridge currently act as physical barriers, creating dead ends and cutting off street-level access to the city. But it doesn’t have to stay this way.

By taking the tracks below grade, similar to what we’ve seen work in cities like Reno, we can reclaim that space. Imagine turning disconnected, industrial “no man’s land” into a surface street that fosters community, connects the Folsom Trail safely, and allows the city to grow together rather than being divided by infrastructure.

It’s time to rethink how our transit interacts with our city. 🚆✨

05/20/2026

Is it a “no man’s land” or the city’s greatest opportunity? 🏗️

Right now, massive rail yards in Salt Lake City act as an “economic firebreak,” physically and socially dividing the east and west sides. But what if we looked to cities like Reno for a better way forward?

By utilizing grade-separated infrastructure, like sinking the tracks and creating public space above, we could turn these disconnected zones into a world-class transit hub. Imagine direct access to platforms, safe pedestrian flow, and a welcoming environment for all.

It’s time to stop letting tracks dictate the limits of our city. Let’s build something better. 🚋✨

05/19/2026

Ever wondered why Reno buried their train tracks? 🚂 It’s a masterclass in solving urban gridlock. By moving the rail underground, they didn’t just fix traffic they reclaimed space for the city to actually live in.

What’s one piece of infrastructure in your city that you’d change if you could? Clearly we would build the

Let’s talk about it below! 👇

05/13/2026

In part 6 of the West/East Connections presentation, Christian Lenhart talks about how the railroad crossings and the trains that use them will only continue to cut off the two sides of Salt Lake City if we do nothing.

Union Pacific freight trains continue to get longer, UTA FrontRunner is doubling service, and has arrived at

If we do nothing we will continue to deal with these trains we will only see the West/East divide get worse.

Want to help us make it a reality? Click the link in our bio, contact your elected officials, join our volunteers, and donate to our organization.

05/11/2026

Why is it called the Rio Grande Plan? It’s all about returning to our roots. 🛤️

Christian breaks down why the current rail layout is holding Salt Lake back and how we can finally bridge the gap between our transit hub and our community. 🤝

Happy National Train Day from your neighbors at the Friends of the Rio Grande Depot! We hope you spend some time thinkin...
05/09/2026

Happy National Train Day from your neighbors at the Friends of the Rio Grande Depot!

We hope you spend some time thinking about what these great machines have done for our nation, state, and community.

Please consider making donation to help further our cause of making the Rio Grande Plan a reality. Your support enables us to purchase bulk merch items for upcoming community events and supports our volunteers working to make inroads with elected leaders.

Donations can be made by clicking the link in our bio.

Let’s work together to bring trains back to the Rio Grande Depot!

Image from RRPictureArchives.net taken by Dave Schumacher

05/09/2026

Continuing through the presentation gave to the WE Connect Study. Here Christian begins his presentation talking about his background.

Make sure you take some time to watch this whole video on his YouTube page, link in the bio!

Additionally make sure you stay up to date with what’s happening with the WE Connect Study and all things Rio Grande Plan by subscribing to our newsletter, click the link in our bio to sign up!

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