[3] It was specifically intended to surpass the nearby Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot, which had been built the previous year for US$300,000.

[2][4] The depot was damaged during the 2020 Salt Lake City earthquake, requiring tenants (including a café and the Utah Division of State History) to relocate.

By 1999, Amtrak had moved to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub,[8] after which the tracks near the depot were permanently removed.

The proposal would also eliminate three overpasses, five grade crossings, and 52 acres of rail yards—opening up redevelopment opportunities while improving safety and connectivity.

[13] In February 2023 Salt Lake City was awarded a federal grant to study solutions to the east–west divide, including the Rio Grande Plan.

[14] In December 2023, Salt Lake City revealed that it had conducted a screening analysis on the plan which expanded the scope due to stricter design requirements by UTA and Union Pacific.