In Salt Lake City, train crossings cut westside neighborhoods off from the remainder of the city and place additional constraints on the lives of historically marginalized communities. Without knowing when and how long train crossings will be blocked, westside residents and visitors are constantly ambushed by unexpected delays, which can impact their livelihoods in many ways.
In the fall of 2023, I led and launched a campaign with District Two City Council Member Alejandro Puy to inform the public of the issue and city initiatives, advocate for solutions and encourage residents to submit stories illustrating the impacts of blocked crossings. I created a website and worked with the communications team to produce assets including generic content of freight trains and crossings and a satirical photo essay illustrating things you could do while waiting for a train to pass.
We also created a submission form to gather train delay stories from impacted stakeholders, pitched the campaign to local media outlets, and published an op-ed in The Salt Lake Tribune.
Media Coverage
- As SLC studies train crossing delays, council member says ‘we need to make as much noise as the trains make’, Fox 13, May 14, 2025
- Have a story about SLC train crossings? An official wants to hear it (video interview), ABC4 Utah, Oct. 18, 2023
- Frustrated with stopped trains in Salt Lake City? Why the city wants to hear from you, KSL, Oct. 7, 2023
- SLC City Council looking for residents stories about being stuck behind trains, ABC4 Utah, Sept. 27, 2023
- SLC Council wants westsiders’ train delay stories, Fox 13, Sept. 27, 2023
- SLC Council wants westsiders’ train delay stories (video interview), Fox 13, Sept. 27, 2023
- Salt Lake City wants to hear about your frustrations at train crossings, ABC4 Utah, Sept. 27, 2023
TRAINFO Pilot Program
In the fall of 2024, the Salt Lake City Transportation Division launched a pilot rail crossing information system, which the Council funded in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget. While the pilot program was still in its early stages, I produced a video to:
- Provide clear, accessible explanations of the system and its benefits, why specific signage and infrastructure were implemented and how community members can incorporate the program into their daily commutes.
- Demonstrate the issue’s daily impact on westside communities through visuals and specific examples, motivating broader public support for action.
- Inspire stakeholders (Westside residents, employees and visitors, Salt Lake City residents, and transportation and equity advocates) to share their stories, expanding reach through authentic, community-driven storytelling.
To maximize accessibility and platform optimization, I created both horizontal and vertical formats with both open and closed captions in English and Spanish open. We took a multi-platform approach to distributing the video, including YouTube, collaborative social media posts (Instagram/Facebook), District Two newsletter (950+ subscribers), and campaign landing page integration.
Results
- Collected 10 new resident stories submitted through the campaign landing page and social media comments.
- Raised public awareness and maintained engagement, measured by a 50% increase in YouTube video views and new subscribers.
- Instagram comments revealed residents supporting the program and actively advocating for long-term solutions.
Recognition
The video is a finalist in the Tactics category for Utah PRSA’s 2025 Golden Spike Awards. Winners will be announced on Nov. 13, 2025.