2/23/2023 - Meeting Materials Accessibility and Disability Commission
Salt Lake City Utah
Regular Meeting Agenda
23 February 2023
3:00 PM
This meeting is a discussion among Commissioners and select presenters. The public is
welcome. Items scheduled may be moved or discussed during a different portion of the
meeting based on circumstances or availability of speakers.
This meeting will be hybrid. The Commission Meeting will have a physical location at the
City and County Building in Room 326. Commissioners, presenters, and the public may
attend and participate either in-person or through electronic means using the Zoom link
below.
Join the meeting using the following Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/m/84339442216?pwd=THol L3d4ZWJUUXVyT3pvaS9wTW54UT
09
Public Meeting Rules: The Commission's meetings are a place for people to feel safe and
comfortable in participating in their government. A respectful and safe environment allows
a meeting to be conducted in an orderly, efficient, effective, and dignified fashion, free
from distraction, intimidation, and threats to safety. To support a respectful meeting,
comments or items that disrupt the meeting, intimidate other participants or that may
cause safety concerns are not allowed.
1.Welcome
2.Commissioner Introductions (— 10 minutes)
3.Open Dialogue (— 5 minutes):
During this portion of the meeting, Commissioners may raise topics and discuss current
events that may impact or influence the Commission's overall work, discussions, and
deliberations to provide recommendations to the Mayor and City Council regarding
accessibility and disability matters in Salt lake City. No action will be taken during this
section of the meeting. Matters discussed during this section of the meeting may be
scheduled on a subsequent agenda for follow-up, if desired.
4.Public Comment (limited to 15 minutes):
Attendees may be provided one or two minutes of time, determined by the number of
attendees and the time available as determined by the Commission. Please observe the
time limit stated at the beginning of the public comment period so everyone may have a
chance to speak.
Per the public meeting guidelines, keep comments free of discriminatory language
referring to a person or group based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color,
descent, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other gender identity factor. Items or
comments that disrupt the meeting, intimidate other participants or that may cause safety
concerns are not allowed.
5.Approval of Minutes:
The Accessibility and Disability Commission will review minutes from January
19th.
6.Open Public Meetings Act (OMPA) (— 30 minutes): Jaysen Oldroyd, Staff
Attorney
7.Community Renewable Energy Program (— 15 minutes): Christopher Thomas,
SLC Sustainability
8.City Updates (— 15 minutes): Ashley Lichtle, Board Manager
9.Current Events in Accessibility and Disability (— 15 minutes): Everette Bacon,
Commission Chair
10.TENTATIVE Closed Session
The Commission will consider a motion to enter into a Closed Session. A closed meeting
described under Section 52-4-205 may be held for specific purposes including, but not
limited to:
a. discussion of the character, professional competence, or physical or mental
health of an individual;
b. strategy sessions to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation;
c. discussion regarding deployment of security personnel, devices, or systems;
and
d. investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct.
A closed meeting may also be held for lawful purposes that satisfy the pertinent
requirements of the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act.
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING
On or before 5.00 p.m. on February 22, 2022, the undersigned, duly appointed ADA
Coordinator, does hereby certify that the above notice and agenda was (1) posted on the
Utah Public Notice Website created under Utah Code Section 63F-1-701 , and (2) a copy
of the foregoing posted at the physical location of this meeting.
ASHLEY LICHTLE
SALT LAKE MAYOR'S OFFICE
People with disabilities may make requests for reasonable accommodation, which may
include alternate formats, interpreters, and other auxiliary aids and services. Please make
requests at least two business days in advance. To make a request, please contact the
ADA Coordinator at ADA(aD_slcgov.com, 801-535-7739, or relay service 711.
Accessibility and Disability Commission
Salt Lake City Utah
Pending Regular Meeting Minutes
19 January 2023
3:00 PM
This meeting is hybrid. The Commission Meeting has a physical location at the City and
County Building in the Cannon Room 335 and members of the public may observe the
meeting and/or provide public comment in-person at this location. Commissioners and
presenters may attend and participate either in-person or through electronic means.
Commission Members in Virtual Attendance: Everette Bacon, Scott Browning, Todd
Claflin, Nate Crippes, Jeff Kenyon, Kayci Lynam, Rich Foster, Jan Ferre, Damon Talbot,
Leah Lobato, Kristy Chambers
Commission Members in Attendance: Margo Thurman, Amy Carmen
Commission Members Absent: Pamela Mower, Ivana Powell
City Staff in Virtual Attendance: Chris Norlem
City Staff in Attendance: Ashley Lichtle, Maria Romero
Guests in Attendance: None
This meeting was called to order at 3:05 PM
Welcome
Open Dialogue (— 5 minutes):
• Commissioner Talbot remarked on his new appointment to the Commission.
• Commissioner Ferre announced the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities
is having a legislative reception in the capitol rotunda on Thursday, January 26th, at
4 PM to meet legislators to discuss disability issues.
Public Comment (limited to 15 minutes):
• No members of the public present to make a comment.
Approval of Minutes:
•The Accessibility and Disability Commission approved minutes from November 17th.
Racial Equity in Policing Commission (REP) Update (— 15 minutes): Michelle
Mooney, Equity Manager
• Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager shared the REP's 2022 annual report, including
details on the goals and priorities of SLCPD. The report will be posted to the REP
Commission's website.
•Michelle discussed the REP Commission's goal of a neurodiversity subcommittee and
requested that at least 2 ADC Commissioners participate. The subcommittee plans to
meet every fourth Monday 4-5 PM, as needed, beginning in February 2023.
o Commissioners Foster, Crippes, Chambers, and tentatively Commissioners
Claflin and Thurman expressed interest in this subcommittee.
Emergency Preparedness (— 30 minutes): Amy Carmen, Commission Vice Chair
• Commissioner Carmen shared an update on rewriting Salt Lake City emergency
preparedness plan and asked for Commissioners to share their preparedness plans
and the various specific needs they consider in their plans.
Chair and Vice Chair Elections (— 10 minutes): Ashley Lichtle, Board Manager
• Commissioner Everette Bacon was nominated to serve as the ADC Chair for 2023.
o The Commission voted unanimously to approve this nomination.
•Commissioner Nate Crippes was nominated to serve as the ADC Vice Chair for 2023.
o The Commission voted unanimously to approve this nomination.
City Updates (— 5 minutes): Ashley Lichtle, Board Manager
• The Mayor's Office has appointed a new Chief Equity Officer, Damian Choi.
•The Commission is fully appointed with the appointments of Damon talbot, Kristy
Chambers, and Ivana Powell.
•The closed captioning ordinance will be on the City Council agenda in early February.
Current Events in Accessibility and Disability (— 30 minutes): Amy Carmen,
Commission Vice Chair
•The Commission reviewed and provided updates for the Commission's 2023
priorities.
TENTATIVE Closed Session — Item Not Held.
The Commission will consider a motion to enter into a Closed Session. A closed meeting
described under Section 52-4-205 may be held for specific purposes including, but not
limited to:
a. discussion of the character, professional competence, or physical or mental
health of an individual;
b. strategy sessions to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation;
c. discussion regarding deployment of security personnel, devices, or systems;
and
d. investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct.
A closed meeting may also be held for lawful purposes that satisfy the pertinent
requirements of the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act.
Meeting adjourned at 4.28 PM
Meeting minutes approved through consensus: 2/23/2023
ASHLEY LICHTLE
SALT LAKE MAYOR'S OFFICE
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as additional discussion may
have been held; please refer to the audio or video for entire content pursuant to Utah
Code 52-4-203(2)(b). This document along with the digital recording constitute the official
minutes of the Accessibility and Disability Commission Regular Meeting on January 19,
2023.
Open and Public Meetings Act
Utah Code § 52-4-101, etseq.
Annual Training
2023
§ 52-4-102. Declaration of public policy
(1) The Legislature finds and declares that the state, its agencies and political subdivisions, exist
to aid in the conduct of the people's business.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the state, its agencies, and its political subdivisions:
(a) take their actions openly; and
(b) conduct their deliberations openly.
The Utah Supreme Court has stated, "we interpret the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act
broadly to further the declared statutory purpose of openness."
Kearns-Tribune Corp. v. Salt Lake Cty. Comm'n, 28 P.3d 686, 690 (UT, 2001).
Annual Training Requirement
The presiding officer of the public body shall ensure that the members of the public body are
provided with annual training on the requirements of this chapter. (Utah Code § 52-4-104).
What Constitutes a "Meeting"?
"Meeting" means the convening of a public body or a specified body, with a quorum present,
including a workshop or an executive session, whether in person or by means of electronic
communications, for the purpose of discussing, receiving comments from the public about, or
acting upon a matter over which the public body or specific body has jurisdiction or advisory
power. (Utah Code § 52-4-103(6)(a)).
"Meeting" does not mean a chance gathering or a social gathering. (Utah Code § 52-4-
103(6)(b)). A chance meeting or social meeting may not be used to circumvent the provisions
OPMA. (§ 52-4-208).
"Convening" means the calling together of a public body by a person authorized to do so for the
express purpose of discussing or acting upon a subject over which that public body has
jurisdiction or advisory power.
"Quorum" is a simple majority of the membership of a public body, unless otherwise defined. (§
52-4-103(11)).
Meetings Shall be Open
(Utah Code § 52-4-201)
• A meeting is open to the public unless properly closed pursuant to OPMA.
• A meeting that is open to the public includes a workshop or an executive session of a
public body in which a quorum is present, unless properly closed.
• Of particular importance is that the "information obtaining phase" of decision making
be done in public. Dairy Product Services, Inc. v. City of Wellsville, 13 P.3d 581, 595 (UT
2000).
• Final action/decision must be issued in a public meeting. Common Cause of Utah v.
Public Service Comm'n, 598 P.2d 1312, 1315 (UT 1979).
Notice of Meetings
(Utah Code § 52-4-202)
• Notice of a public meeting includes:
— agenda;
— date;
— time; and
— place.
• OPMA requires at least 24 hours notice of a public meeting.
• In the case of an emergency meeting, the best notice practicable is required.
Agendas
(Utah Code § 52-4-202)
A meeting notice that is required to include an agenda must provide reasonable specificity to
notify the public as to the topics to be considered at the meeting. Each topic must be listed
under an agenda item on the agenda. (§ 52-4-202(6)(a))
Generally, the commission may not take final action on a topic in an open meeting unless the
topic is (a) listed under an agenda item and (b) included in the advance public notice. (Note:
This limitation does not apply to emergency meetings. (§ 52-4-202(6)(c))
Except with respect to emergency meetings, and at the discretion of the presiding member of
the commission, a topic raised by the public may be discussed during an open meeting, even if
the topic raised by the public was not included in the agenda or advance public notice for the
meeting, but final action on the topic may not be taken by the commission at that time. (§ 54-2-
202(6)(b))
2
Meeting Minutes & Recording
(Utah Code § 52-4-203)
Written minutes and a recording shall be kept of all open meetings.
Written minutes of an open meeting shall include:
• the date, time, and place of the meeting;
• the names of members present and absent;
• the substance of all matters proposed, discussed, or decided by the public body which
may include a summary of comments made by members of the public body;
• a record, by individual member, of each vote taken by the public body;
• the name of each person who:
— is not a member of the public body; and
— after being recognized by the presiding member of the public body, provided
testimony or comments to the public body;
• the substance, in brief, of the testimony or comments provided by the public;
• any other information that is a record of the proceedings of the meeting that any
member requests be entered in the minutes or recording.
A recording is not required to be kept of an open meeting that is a site visit or a traveling tour, if
no vote or action is taken by the public body. (Utah Code § 52-4-203(7)).
Closed Meetings
(Utah Code § 52-4-205)
Purposes for which a meeting may be closed:
• Discussion of the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an
individual;
• Strategy sessions to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation;
• Strategy sessions to discuss the purchase, exchange, or lease of real property;
• Discussion regarding deployment of security personnel, devices, or systems
• Other purposes (not relevant to the commission).
Process for closing a meeting (Utah Code § 52-4-204):
• Quorum must be present;
• Required notice must have been given;
• 2/3rds vote of members present;
• Must announce and enter into the minutes:
— reasons for holding the closed meeting;
— the location where the closed meeting will be held;
— the vote by name, of each member of the public body, either for or against the
motion to hold the closed meeting.
3
Record of the Closed Meeting (Utah Code § 52-4-206).
• OPMA requires that certain records be kept of closed meetings.
NO VOTE CAN BE TAKEN IN A CLOSED MEETING OTHER THAN A VOTE TO END THE CLOSED
PORTION. (§ 52-4-204(3)(B)).
Electronic Meetings
(Utah Code § 52-4-207)
• A public body may not hold an electronic meeting unless the public body has adopted a
resolution, rule, or ordinance governing the use of electronic meetings.
• Ordinarily, even an electronic meeting must have an anchor location, which is a physical
location where the public can attend/view the meeting
• Recent changes:
• Allow for the public body to convene and conduct an electronic meeting without
an anchor location, if:
• The chair of the public body determines that conducting the meeting
with an anchor location presents a substantial risk to the health or safety
of those present or who would otherwise be present at the anchor
location, or
• The chair determines the location where the public body would normally
meet has been ordered closed to the public for health or safety reasons
• Public notice should inform of the chair's decision, with a summary of facts in
which the chair relied, and information on how the public may attend remotely.
• Also, a chair can close the anchor location during an electronic meeting based on
the same standard, so long as the determination and reasons are stated on the
record, and the public can alternatively join electronically.
• Electronic meetings held under the new "substantial risk" provisions must provide
members of the public a means of hearing or viewing the meeting as well as a means of
providing comments.
Disruption of Meetings
(Utah Code § 52-4-301)
The Act does not prohibit the removal of any person from a meeting if the person willfully
disrupts the meeting to the extent that orderly conduct is seriously compromised. The
implication of that language is that disruptive persons can be removed.
Consequences of Violating Open Meeting Law
(Utah Code §§ 52-4-302 to 52-4-305)
4
Any final action taken in violation of certain provisions of the Act is voidable by a court. The
suit must be commenced within 90 days after the date of the action.
A court may not void final action for failure to post notice on the Utah Public Notice Website if
the failure was the result of unforeseen internet hosting or communication technology failure
and the commission otherwise complied with the public notice requirements.
A person denied a right under the Act may sue to compel compliance with or to enjoin violation
of the Act, or to determine the Act's applicability to discussions or decisions of the commission.
A commission member who knowingly and intentionally violates or who knowingly or
intentionally abets or advises a violation of the closed meeting provisions of the Act is guilty of
a class B misdemeanor.
5
Community Renewable
EnergyProgram
Update for ADA Commission
Feb 23, 2023
Christopher Thomas
Sr. Energy and Climate Program Manager
Salt Lake City Department of Sustainability
Christopher.Thomas@slcgov.com 1 385-228-6873 (cell)
Agency website: utah100communities.org
What We Hope to Accomplish Tonight ...
• Update the ADA Commission on what the Community Renewable Energy
Program is and the anticipated timeline
• Present and ask for feedback on ways the Program might address energy
affordability and access
• Present and ask for feedback on outreach strategies
• Answer questions
Goal of the Program
• Deploy large-scale renewable energy to clean up our electricity supply, paid for
by participating customers
• Technically: every year, match the amount of electricity Program participants
use with renewable energy delivered to the grid for participants (by 2030)
• This is referred to as a "net-100% renewable electricity" goal
• This is the single largest strategy for reducing carbon pollution associated with
Salt Lake City's electricity consumption
Participating Communities (18)
UTAH North to South
00
Ogden Ev„
Summit County
1 ayton.\
Coalville Sa.,ake
Emigration Canyon p
• Salt Lake County ooS
_ Vf L'JI
• Salt Lake City rr
Oakley
ParticipationMillcreek
Holladay
Status Clas� Electric Sales Park City
(Million MW- Kearns 25%
hours) Cottonwood Heights
Francis ...°fR"'P'S Utah
Residential 1.9 sales
Alta
—.MdA Commercial 3.2 Castle Valley O
Industrial 1.2 Grand CountyMoab
Other .037 Springdale
TOTAL 6.3 Million
$I George
9
Community Renewable Energy Agency Structure
Program Design Committee
Springdale, Ogden,Summit County, Park City, Millcreek, Holladay, Salt Lake City
Community Renewable Energy Agency • Coordinate and negotiate with RMP, other state agencies
• Interlocal Government Body • Bring recommendations to board regarding program design, utility
• 18 communities joined agreement, key program design decisions
• Outside counsel &energy consultants
Low-Income Plan Committee
Ogden, Cottonwood Heights, Park City, Kearns,Summit County,Salt Lake City,
Castle Valley
Board of Directors • Research, study, consult with community members to develop options for
• 2 board members per community communities to adopt in their required low-income plans
• Monthly Meetings • Support program design committee with recommendations around low-
• Officers: income components
o Chair: Dan Dugan,Salt Lake City
o Vice Chair:Angela Choberka, Ogden Communications Committee
o Treasurer:Jeff Silvestrini, Millcreek Alta, Moab, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay,Salt Lake City
o Secretary: Emily Quinton, Summit County . Manages website, supports Board with communications assets, develops
press releases
• Will be critical to support communities with outreach &education before
and during program launch 5
Achieving net-100% renewable electricity goal by 2030
New Program resources
counting toward the
11 11 1L 1L goal can include:
• Solar
100% - - - - - - - - ---- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . Wind
' • • ' • • Program • Geothermal
• Hydro
• Storage
• Energy efficiency
Standard-offer
renewable energy
resources paid for by
participating customers
could count toward the
goal through retiring
bundled Renewable
• • • Energy Certificates
(RECs)
2024 2026 2028 2030
6
How will the program work?
Once the program is approved by the Utah
Public Service Commission and ready to launch, New Resources Homes & Businesses
the Community Renewable Energy Agency will all
review resource bids and vote to acquire new
storage
renewable energy resources that will wind
interconnect with Rocky Mountain Power's
system solar
o0
Our Grid
7
Anticipated Timeline (Subject to Change)
• Regulatory filing with the Utah Public Service Commission to approve the
Program (Mar 2023)
• Utah Public Service Commission decides whether to approve the Program (Jun
— Sep 2023)
• Salt Lake City and other participating communities consider whether to finalize
participation (June — Sep 2023)
• Rocky Mountain Power customers begin receiving two opt-out notices over
roughly two months (Sep 2023 — Dec 2024)
• The Program is currently expected to cost the typical household an average of
between $2 and $7 extra per month
• There may be a modest termination fee (—$30) if a customer does not opt-out
or cancel within the first three months
CommunityRenewableEnergy Agency Board
• Low Income Plan Committee
• Communications Committee
• Program Design Committee
RegulatorsUtility &
• Office of Consumer Services
Collaborators • Division of Public Utilities
' PacifiCorp/ Rocky Mountain Power
to Date
Low IncomeAgencies
• Utah Community Action
• Futures through Training
• Five County Association of Governments
• Southeastern Utah Association of Governments
• Mountainland Association of Governments
• Salvation Army
Approved Programmatic Strategies
• The programmatic strategies adopted by the Community Renewable
Energy Agency:
1. An enhanced bill credit
2. A termination fee waiver
Enhanced Monthly Bill Credit
• For residential customers who participate in the Program and are
enrolled in Schedule 3 "Low Income Lifeline Program — Residential
Service," an additional monthly bill credit will be applied
• Customers enrolled in Schedule 3 receive a monthly bill credit of up
to $13.95/month
• An additional monthly bill credit will be funded through a bill rider
paid for by Program customers who are not enrolled in Schedule 3
• The bill credit will be set at an amount to cover the average Program
participation cost for the typical household, up to $7 per month
Termination Fee Waiver
All Rocky Mountain Power customers will be sent two mailed notices
and have around 60 days to "opt-out" before the Community
Renewable Energy Program begins
Once the first Community Renewable Energy Program charge appears
on a customer's bill, the customer will have three billing cycles to
cancel without a termination fee.
After three billing cycles, there may be a termination fee to exit the
Program (targeting a termination fee of —$30)
For residential customers who are enrolled in Schedule 3 "Low Income
Lifeline Program — Residential Service," any termination fee for exiting
the Program at any point will be waived.
Outreach Strategies
• Provide enhanced communication to households who may be
disproportionately affected by utility bill changes, including households who
• Receive housing assistance
• Receive a fixed income
• Are renters and may not directly pay utility bills
• Live in a single family detached home
• Are recently resettled refugees
• Coordinate with related community organizations, including
• A one-on-one meeting
• Invitations to a quarterly meeting hosted by the Low-Income Plan Committee
• Providing posters in English and Spanish with a request to display in high-visibility areas
• Providing template information emails with a request to distribute via any list-serves
Organizations
• Assist Utah • Utah Community Action
• Dept of Workforce Services — Refugee • AARP — Utah State Office
Services • Comunidades Unidas
• Division of Services for People with • Foundations for Independence —
Disabilities Cerebral Palsy of Utah
• Housing Authority of Salt Lake City • Futures through Training
• Medicaid • Utah Rental Housing Association
• National Resource Directory • Salt Lake City Landlord/Tenant
• Neighborworks Salt Lake Initiative
• Work Activity Center - Midvale • ... and many more
Feedback Requested
• Are there any other organizations you would recommend we include in Salt
Lake City's outreach plan?
• Do you have any other suggestions for how we can "get the word out" about
the Community Renewable Energy Program when it launches?
• Any other questions for us?
RIO GRANDE PLAN
REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL BASED ON THE RESTORATION
OF RAIL SERVICE TO THE RIO GRANDE DEPOT
lies
wo
0
I m
C
^'Tm . . C
co
N _ o
MlrrlNl �-�.-
DEVELOPED BY CHRISTIAN LENHART AND CAMERON BLAKELY
INTRODUCTION
PROJECT BACKGROUND"
A visitor's first impressions of
downtown Salt Lake City are shaped
•• -• by crossing a landscape of freight
yards,freeway overpasses,railroad
crossings,and industrial decay.This
crossroads of bridges and train
tracks creates a maze of dead-
- ends and one-way streets that is
•.. PROJECT AREA ; Q'"` - -"fO �. confusing,uninviting,and which
iiiiiiijp-". - �, '� has stifled new developments
in a city that is otherwise bursting
-- �♦ 1 f' T,-`-�Y4Se. .•-. - with growth.In the middle of this
labyrinth is UTA's Salt Lake Central
1 * Station,which,despite its name,
SALT LAKE CENTRAL STATION is merely an open-air transit plaza
1 that is separated from the rest
of downtown by what was once
a grand passenger station-the
beautiful Rio Grande Depot.
There is a better way forward.
RIO Y
F GRAND€ Instead of being a barrier to
y - - development,the Rio Grande Depot
r------- t can become one of Salt Lake City's,
♦ �i. s�+w.-wn. - and Utah's,greatest assets.Today,
7 1 rc 1 a once-in-a-generation opportunity
.E � •` - - "` j L) 1 exists to reroute the tracks,reclaim
the railyards,and reconnect our
�' - '1• a j 1 ♦ - - communities.
-
j j +_ "' _ z• -` . The Rio Grande Plan is a vision for
Salt Lake City that would Improve
DEPOT
the safety and efficiency of
'•,��.,.,:,�z•���1��� 1 1 transportation across the city,open
1
70 acres of industrial land to
e .p, ^,a.. ♦ 1 new development,reconnect the
east and west sides of the city,and
, -�, �" ♦♦ j _ create a premier,high-capacity
transportation hub centered on a
fully restored Rio Grande Depot.
♦ 11 PROJECT COMPONENTS
♦♦
♦ 1 - �., ' M Relocate all north-south train tracks
i { _ between 900 South and 100 South
"... into a below-grade structure called a
'train box,'
Relocate all transit services from the
YA
current Salt Lake Central Station to
♦ 1 `-�-]— G1 I the historic Rio Grande Depot.
♦♦' ; II Y�!}1� io Close five at-grade railroad
crossings,and replace the highway
j --•ti �, •�"""� __ :+, °p° viaducts on 400,500 and 600 South
with at-grade streets.
jI - Open the land formerly occupied
- = by the railroad yards between 600
♦, _ West and 1-15 to new development,
amounting to over 75 acres of new
'�. urban space.
1 IRIO GRANDE PLAN CHRISTIAN LENHART//CAMERON BLAKELY 2
THE ISSUES
J AT-GRADE CROSSINGS
The five at-grade railroad crossings
west of downtown pose significant
hazards,both directly and indirectly.
t - - Since 1976,28 incidents have
been recorded between people
_ and trains,resulting in 11 major
j' injuries and 4 fatalities.However,
the damage goes far beyond these
individual tragedies.Each time the
q''tt
dd gates go down,students cannot
{�! get to their schools,workers cannot
I ail '�'- • get to their jobs,essential deliveries
cannot be made,and police
e and
rescuers cannot get to emergencies.
Between these five crossings,the
gates activate over 300 times per
I
n ; __, ,». ^- r 1 r day-often for many minutes at a
time-and this number will only et
- i 7,n 1 •����• At-Grade Crossings Y9
1 ----_--' - higher as train frequencies increase.
0 10 SALT LAKE CENTRAL
Salt Lake Central Station was built
`=
z_ w' as a temporary solution in 1999,but
2 w was never upgraded.Passengers
e All ? '„
are forced to cross active railroad
tracks in order to reach their
trains,and amenities such as
water fountains and restrooms are
non-existent.Amtrak passengers
y y have access to a waiting room in
3 a temporary trailer building,while
f_ ' `--i,ri, transit riders must wait outside
in the elements.Worst of all,the
station is located a mile from
the downtown core,making it
difficult for pedestrians and drivers
to access.As passenger numbers
t ,.- __________i 2 1 ® • r -• continue to rise,major upgrades will
•3 - •' be required to prevent overcrowding,
r ,+ -____; Salt Lake Central including bridges,escalators,indoor
waiting areas,and basic passenger
amenities.Not only will these
upgrades be expensive,but they will
• ultimately fail to solve the station's
main problem it is located in the
. v wrong place.
■ e FREEWAY BRIDGES
The effect of the road overpasses
at 400,500,and 600 South cannot
-','- be overstated.By disrupting the
street grid,drivers and pedestrians
�X are required to navigate a maze of
900 SOUTH one-way streets,blocked roads,and
dead ends.The space beneath the
v bridges has become synonymous
with crime and vagrancy,dissuading
visitors and development.
Furthermore,the complete loss of
_ ---- ' ' street frontage along the bridges
3 ___________j j • • creates several blocks isolated
- o -"' � 3 � • parcels unsuited for urban
Freeway Bridges development.
3 IRIO GRANDE PLAN CHRISTIAN LENHART//CAMERON BLAKELY 4
THE VISION
MASTER PLAN
Z-- 1 The Rio Grande Plan proposes
9
J] . L 8 relocating all railroad tracks to a
J
new underground structure called
_J J d a'train box.'With the necessary
tracks moved underground,75 acres
of industrial land will be opened for
development.The railroad crossings,
D -JJ-3 bridges,and freight yards that
prevented growth will be replaced
by seven new city blocks where
thousands of new residents can live
and work,all centered around the
Li restored Rio Grande Depot.
For nearly a century,the Rio Grande
AMTRAK i FRONTRUNNER TOOELE HA K CITY Depot was a center of activity on
ION PACIFIC COMMUTER COMMUTER
i L-L UNSalt Lake City's west side.From
JJto 1999,the depot served as
-fty's main train station,hosting
3 Amtrak routes to Denver,San
-J Francisco,Los Angeles,and Seattle.
P F
Tracks to the station ran in the
median of 500 West from 900 South
to South Temple,but were removed
J a in 1999 to make way for shorter
I — —�-J- freeway ramps,in preparation for the
2002 Winter Olympics.Because the
rail infrastructure was removed only
-J -J 20 years ago,the right-of-way is still
intact,and no major relocations
or acquisitions of property will be
necessary to restore rail service to
H __r-j the depot.
• The'train box,'which will be built
9 below 500 West,will be similar to
Ll �ld rail projects in Reno,NV,and Los
'pea
Angeles,CA.Structurally,it will be
i ID OT
comparable to an underground
parking garage with a road surface
on top,making it substantially
cheaper than conventional
tunnels.City residents on the street
above will be unware of the trains
traveling below their feet.
-------------- -
When the tracks are removed,
the bridge at 400 South can be
replaced with a surface street,and
the freeway overpasses at 500 and
600 South can be cut back.These
up 11 blocks
U of new street frontage,restoring
.-I I �1 vibrancy to the community and
zi creating a welcoming entrance to
n A
7 reductions will open
Q Salt Lake City.
1 Jr JFJ
ya2 uaau
I W-11 m
12-d
J1,
!t—j
x"-
J
--ZJ
5 R10 GRANDE PLAN CH R IS-IAN LEN HART//CAMERON BLAKELY 6
THE NETWORK
p p e
_..... .."-" d9 ACCESS ANDWALKABILITY
ea°\a ( ,\g
¢L.lOG1pOO Gi4 SPatµ cµsoo O O die Transit and pedestrian routes create
{a NORTH TEMPLE a d°
a basic framework around which a
' • ----------'--------------------' city operates.Even though the Rio
Grande Depot is only a block and a
will A'" eaa �e�pes
¢"Hum pL @5IF56 core
i half east of Salt Lake Central Station
i the implications for the downtown
__ --- - Q � 11 be enormous.
SOUTH TEMPLE
jFor pedestrians,the Rio Grande
00 ®♦�;' y oeatet i Depot is within easy walking
distance of much more of downtown
a 4�pOb� ;•, yrP�� °`� i than the current transit center,
6 P� i .;- : ���• 100 SOUTH
meaning not all passengers will
need to
nsfer to TRAX or buses
__ ,��`�`'•, g9N��� reach theia o destinations.
t♦ ��� GXI i Grande Plan creates twice as much
,•'' ;'. ♦ ;��1 yPQ� i st - ntagea c si o
--------------------=----------'-------V--- -�-- -- -- -- = --------- -----J-----------------------200 SOUTH pedestrians,greatly expanding the
.�O
__ BUS
♦ - area that will benefit from increased
♦♦ 5 ��,a foot traffic.By moving transit closer
♦ I �P to the city center,Salt Lake City
♦ ' 9a"� i can finally have the tight-knit and
VACATEai' walkable downtown it has been
STATION e i 300 SOUTH building toward.
9t t� ••
s i FUTURE NETWORK
ad UH0W190a@07%7 a
;l :`• n The Rio Grande Depot can be easily
■ ,,M integrated into a downtown TRAX
EXISTING LINES ! `cp3■ �\ '--- p" °o�� i MaOMCG1ffi�457 a loop.A new circulator line can run
eM■ ;' P�e�
TRAX RED �■ ......... !rI �et� �r°�So andtthe Rio Grande,providing tthe
Daybreak-Downtown-University'., ®� fides.. c°� i same service as the long-proposed
d■ qt�atd 500 SOUTH downtown streetcar line,but at a
TRAX GREEN ¢■ \o i lower cost.A line on 400 South
West Valley-Downtown-Airport �■ can create a direct link to the
University Medical Center.As
EXPANDED/MODIFIED LINES oa aj the local and national rail systems
`• di -'- ' 5��� 600 SOUTH continue to grow,even more
FRONTRUNNER COMMUTER 0■ --. ° destinations will be brought within
Payson-Provo-Salt Lake-Ogden-Logan 6cp i easy access of downtown.While the
■ to i transit routes shown on this map are
AMTRAK a�ah i aspirational,they demonstrate the
Denver-Salt Lake-Reno/Boise 700 SOUTH enormous potential of what can be
■ a• created by having a more centrally-
TRAX ORANGE ■ located transportation hub.
Downtown-Sugarhouse-Holladay
TRAX YELLOW BUS
Downtown Circulator ----------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------------800 SOUTH
I
� TRAX BLUE
I
Downtown-Traverse Mountain-Lehi .• oeai�9tr
FUTURE LINES
900 SOUTH
LAKE TO MOUNTAIN COMMUTER
Tooele-Salt Lake-Park City a
F1 i
TRAX BLACK (91
c
Airport-Downtown-University o�o� G Q i w W
TRAX SILVER v+ w
OQ w w CD. ® vi
University-Downtown O� 4�GQ� o o q p y zLu
--- BRIT/ENHANCED BUS b b b v V r d 3 y
7 IRIO GRANDE PLAN CHRISTIAN LENHART YCAMERON BLAKELY 8
THE STATION
� RESTORED DEPOT
v
rande
epot
- The chile 1910 O r ywas Chicago-
based�_ architect Henry Schlacks,and
- - - is listed on the National Register
of Historic Places.It was meant
to be larger and grander than the
_ neighboring Union Pacific Depot
��. three blocks to the north,costing
f C,.X L_' '...,,1. _ .,� , twice as much to construct.The six
enormous arched windows were an
_— . '- —*� impressive feature for the time,and
�•" ' !: / P I i . the foundations are clad with Yule
l - Marble the same exclusive marble
that adorns the Lincoln Memorial
_ in Washington D.C.Facing financial
difficulties,the railroad chose to sell
the depot to the state of Utah in 1977
for$1,rather than see it torn down.
The freight wing has been home to
RIO GRANDE the Utah State Historical Society
since 1981,and the main hall has
been used as an art gallery since the
trains left in 1999.The Rio Grande
Plan will restore this remarkable
NEW CONCOURSE CANOPY building to its original purpose.
The new landmark concourse will
provide access to six tracks,hosting
00 WEST - _ RIO GRANDE STREET • • trains from Amtrak,UTA,and future
STATION HALL rail services.Access to platforms will
be via elevators and escalators.
L I L _i TRAX light rail will be rerouted to Rio
Q TRAX UTA B Grande Street,east of the depot,in
order to provide passengers with
PLATFORMS PLATFO D G a seamless transfer to Main Street,
University of Utah,and the airport.
Intercity buses will be directed north
PLATFORM 3 PLATFORM 2 PLATFORM 1 and south of the main concourse,
AMTMK FRONTRUNNER TOOELE-PARK CITY while UTA buses will be located on
UNION PACIFIC COMMUFER COMMUTER Rio Grande Street parallel to TRAX.
Passenger pickup will be just west
RIO GRANDE of the concourse along 500 West.
OIIIIIO This rebuilt street will accommodate
bike and vehicular circulation while
connecting to the 300 South Festival
\ Street that is currently being planned.
Aso qt
• <TO BUS PLAZA NORTH - TO BUS PLAZA SOUTH>
,a
Ion Mill
r =wr�������
CHRISTIAN LENHART//CAMERON BLAKELY 10
THE IMPACT
M' Land Gains for Development REDEVELOPMENT
�Ft
The railyards west of downtown were
20 75+ 150+ staging
originally f r the any r o provide
staging for the many rail-served
warehouses that were common in
ACRES ACRES ACRES 7 the area in the early gy a century.
Changes in technology and business
practices,buyouts and mergers
in the railroad industry,and more
modern railyards north and south
of the city have removed all need for
-� .---------------, a railyard at this location.Railroad
properties alone comprise nearly 75
acres of land between 9th South
' I I and South Temple,all of which
�r could be better utilized by housing
office,and retail to; a rapidly growing population.odate for
•---------------- --------------------
` t � Between the railyards,the
.{'., •a RDA RAILYARDS ADJACENT
"STATION CENTER UNDERDEVELOPED Redevelopment Agency's current)
• „ r PROJECT" LAND PY
planned Station Center Project
(which
proposal),would
dnd e unaffected pbydthis
parcels in the immediate vicinity,
` well over 200 acres of land could
J1MW . be redeveloped.
ow
or
AIll
. I
150+
ACRES OF
IMPROVED
LAND
75+ACRES OF BRAND
RIO GRANDE NEW DEVELOPMENT
CONNECTION TO PLANNED
STATION CENTER
`t
PASSEN ER
...^�.ram' � .��`r' •n
STRUCTURED V•k ""
PARKING
r
w� t
COMPLETE STREET
aJ - _s► �� ,r
� t F"•
REDEVELOPMENT 500 West Looking South
PRECEDENT PROJECTS
RENO,NEVADA
» Rail route through downtown -
reconstructed in underground train
box. _
» Revitalized historic depot { a -
F. t
» New public space on top of rails
» 100 acres of land acquired by city for
redevelopment
» -$300 million price tag - "�, -'L�/� ,�j. _ " ` i• �� f'��,t i E-
» Twice as long and half as wide as Rio _ "..•ss ._.t'-��+ j 1 It -W�' rzi'-
_. f = 4
Grande proposal
L _
• Train Box Under Construction
____ niJl• _
IT
r{
r-WFr/YudYuie.:_ �rcA'+�t
Js
-' - DENVER,COLORADO Q
Restoration of the historic Union Station,
f0. ig _ removal and reconstruction of light rail
tracks,construction of an underground
e;, ! �I bus terminal,and construction of new train \
y. - ��N canopy.
t flit ' �y 42 acres of new mixed use urban
I ,`r R �!��ft development
_ j ,
•• "� » $500 million pace tag
y P { » Paid through federal loans and local s
funding. -
» Loan retired nearly 10 years ahead of
s 4— schedule from development revenue
.t ^rf� ► � y0-4
c' l'�I�
RENO Capped Tracks
r
15 RIO GRANDE PLAN
COST ESTIMATES FUNDING AND CONCLUSION
COST ESTIMATES FUNDING POSSIBILITIES
At this early stage,it isn't possible to provide a detailed cost projection for the Rio Funding may come from a variety of sources,including but not limited to:
Grande Plan.Broadly,we expect the cost to fall between the costs of the Reno and
Denver projects listed above-between$300 and$500 million.This is because » A special tax district,covering only the area directly improved by the Rio
the plan has been designed around the same techniques used in Reno,Denver, Grande Plan.This additional tax would be in effect only until the project costs
Sacramento,Portland,Seattle,and other western American cities that have had great are repaid.This strategy was used to great success in the Denver Union
success in restoring their historic train stations. Station project,and is planned for improvements to the Ogden Union Station
area.
» Annual state transportation spending by the Utah State Legislature.In addition
CHEAPER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE to the regular funding stream,large projects are often given special priority in pr
the state budget.Some recent examples include:
If the Rio Grande Plan is not adopted,various state and local agencies will be required _,.;�
to make infrastructure improvements on their own: Highway 89 Widening(to be completed in 2023,$489 million)
» UTA's FrontRunner will require more space for a second track through downtown, Mountain View Corridor(Various segments,-$400 million each)
requiring demolition of existing structures and the reconstruction of the 900 South
freeway bridge.Costs will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The I-15 Tech Corridor(completed 2021,$415 million)
Grade crossings at 5 locations will need to be grade separated eventually.Railroad The West Davis Corridor(to be completed in 2024,$725 million) - IT
crossing projects are in the purview of the Utah Department of Transportation,which draws funds from taxpayers statewide.The recent grade-separation project » The Federal Government,through the Federal Department of Transportation4\
on 5600 West cost UDOT$83 million.Five crossings at that rate would cost and Federal Transit Administration.The state of Utah,UDOT,and UTA have I I
` $415 million. been extremely successful in winning significant federal grants for rail safety
and transit projects,including TRAX,FrontRunner,and the construction of Salt
- (�) Salt Lake Central Station will need significant upgrades,including safer access Lake Central Station in 1999.
to platforms,better passenger waiting areas,and restrooms.No plan for these
improvements has yet been published,but costs will be significant. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.The'bipartisan infrastructure bill'
�Iv of 2021 has set aside$39 billion for public transportation and$66 billion for
» Transit improvements between Main Street,Salt Lake Central,and the Granary passenger rail.With such historic levels of funding available,the likelihood of _
District,such as the proposed Downtown Streetcar,will be required in the receiving federal assistance is higher than ever. - -
MI future,owing to the greater distance to Salt Lake Central Station and its inferior
connections to downtown.
When taken all together,these individual projects have the potential to cost taxpayers CONCLUSION I ••
1 •S far more than the estimated price the Rio Grande Plan. �\ c. Sl.,-•
Restoring rail service to the historic Rio Grande depot is not only technically
- �•.� i'. feasible,but also extremely beneficial:
KEEPING COSTS LOW » The safer design of below-grade tracks w save lives and prevent gridlock.
» ill idl - -- ---
The Rio Grande Plan has been designed to have the greatest positive impact with the The new rail station will have a higher capacity than the current Salt Lake
least amount of disruption,displacement,and cost: Central station.
» By building new rail infrastructure in a new right-of-way,current rail operations will » The 75+acres of newly open land is equivalent to over 7 city blocks,and will
not be disrupted during construction,minimizing delays to transit riders and provide room for tens of thousands of people to live and work in Salt Lake City.
reducing remediations.
» Amore central location for downtown's rail terminal will result in more
' » The Rio Grande Plan takes advantage of the full width of 500 West.No private pedestrian activity,particularly on 300 South.
properties will need to be acquired for this stretch of the corridor.
i Without the railyards in the way,downtown will become better connected to i
�+ Because so much of the historic rail corridor still exists-including freeway bridges the West Side,Poplar Grove neighborhood,and the Jordan River. . E
and a clear right-of-way-disruptions to adjacent property owners and residents
will be minimal. » The new station will become an icon of Salt Lake City,the Wasatch Front,
and the State of Utah.
» No ramps,bridges,or major roads will need to be altered.Although the Rio
Grande Plan enables the existing overpasses to be reduced or eliminated in the The solutions presented in this Rio Grande Plan have all be successfully
future,such changes are not necessary for rail service to be restored to the Rio implemented in neighboring cities across the west.Like these other cities,Salt
Grande Depot. Lake City is experiencing phenomenal growth in its downtown core-but unlike its
neighbors,it has not yet realized the immense potential of its historic train station.
» By opening new land for development,the Rio Grande Plan will turn otherwise With rising transit ridership,increasing rent prices,and unprecedented amounts of
vacant land into a source of income for the city. federal aid available,the time is right for state and city leaders to act.By adopting
the Rio Grande Plan,Salt Lake City can reconnect with its past,improve its current
infrastructure,and position itself as a leader towards a cleaner,safer,fairer,and
more prosperous future.
� ap�eaa�ane- _ y
—__ YrWl�iikY_I iYr
Psi
I It
Nina
a M
Icoo an No I.
_
- -CHRIST-IAN LENHART_ // CAMERON+�BLA14 ' - . __ _
_ PROFESSIONAL'ENGINEER URBAN DESIGNER_. .. - - -_ - _ '
- _ WORK EXPERIENCE WORK EXPERIENCE - _ "� •_
Y -_ _ � UVX BUS RAPID TRANSIT AGGIE BODLEVARD STREETSCAPE.JIESIGN, 41SU -. -"
' - Y _ � -� _ _MOUNTAFN VIEW CORRIDOR .. DAYBREAKxRL'ANNING AND DESIGN __ +���
.,.; �+� _- _ _ WEST DAVID CORRIDO.R UDS CHURCH SIT€ DESIGN AND PLANNING _ _
- - �„_�•�. ' -=�� r�. :'x��„� - `=� - THANK YOU ��' �yt��� �=_� -� `.