Help us improve transit along the Wasatch Front.

Leadership

The Team

Ralph Becker

Co-Founder

Ralph Becker is an accomplished planner, attorney, and public leader whose career spans the National Park Service, Utah State Planning Office, the Utah House of Representatives, and two terms as Mayor of Salt Lake City, where he implemented the Complete Streets Ordinance to improve multimodal transportation infrastructure. His decades of work in land‑use planning, sustainable development, and legislative leadership align directly with WATS’s mission to integrate rail expansion with environmental protection, improved mobility, and equitable regional planning. Becker’s expertise in shaping policy, guiding collaborative decision‑making, and advancing community‑supported transportation solutions strengthens WATS’s commitment to building a rail‑centered, environmentally responsible, Mountain Accord‑aligned transit future for the Wasatch region. Ralph provides WATS with unmatched policy, land‑use, and sustainability leadership—essential for coalition building, Mountain Accord alignment, community engagement, and ensuring that major transit investments strengthen environmental stewardship and serve the long‑term interests of Utah communities.

Co-Founder

Michael Allegra

Michael Allegra, a 37‑year veteran of UTA and its former President and CEO, brings to WATS unparalleled expertise in building and operating major rail systems, having led the addition of 140 miles of new rail in just over a decade and transforming UTA into a fully multi‑modal network spanning light rail, commuter rail, streetcar, BRT, and expanded bus service. His leadership during the 2002 Olympic Games demonstrated his ability to execute complex, high‑stakes regional mobility programs, directly supporting WATS’s mission to advance a world‑class, multi‑modal, rail‑centered transit system across the Wasatch Front. Allegra’s deep experience in planning, delivering, and scaling rail systems uniquely positions him to help WATS champion initiatives such as the Little Cottonwood Canyon Rail, FrontRunner expansion, and long‑range regional connectivity needed to address population growth, congestion, air quality, and environmental stewardship. Michael provides WATS with high‑credibility technical leadership, firsthand experience delivering the type of large‑scale rail expansion Utah now needs, and the strategic insight required to advance WATS’s vision for a rail‑focused, sustainable regional mobility system.

Wasatch Transit Solutions is supported by a committed team of volunteers drawn from transportation professionals, AEC industry experts, rail specialists, attorneys, and advocates for sustainable, clean‑air transportation. Their shared commitment reflects a deep belief in the power of high‑quality transit to reduce congestion, improve air quality, enhance safety, and expand mobility across the Wasatch Front.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • WATS (Wasatch Transit Solutions) is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding a sustainable, multi‑modal regional transit system with rail as the backbone. It was created to reduce congestion, improve air quality, enhance safety, and support long‑range mobility across the Wasatch Front.

  • Utah’s population is expected to nearly double by 2060, placing enormous pressure on roads, air quality, and mobility. Rail provides reliable, high‑capacity transportation that reduces traffic, cuts emissions, and connects communities to jobs, recreation, and economic opportunity.

  • One of the primary problems the organization addresses is the severe congestion on the Wasatch Front, particularly along corridors like I-15, which currently handles over 250,000 daily trips. Beyond gridlock, WATS is working to solve the region's air quality challenges, specifically the winter inversions that trap dangerous pollution. We also focus on the lack of reliable transit to recreation hubs like the Cottonwood Canyons and the general absence of strong north–south and east–west regional rail connections.

  • our long-term goals are centered on advocating for a rail-first regional network that moves us away from highway expansion. We are pushing for a future where public transit achieves at least a double-digit modal split across the state, with an even more aggressive target of 40–50% rail mode share in our vital canyon corridors. Ultimately, we are working to secure a comprehensive transportation and land-use solution that fully aligns with the Mountain Accord, ensuring our growth remains sustainable while protecting the environment that makes the Wasatch region unique.

  • One of our signature efforts is to fairly evaluate and advance a rail solution for LCC that integrates with the regional network, reduces vehicle dependency, and protects the Central Wasatch Mountains for future generations.

  • WATS expands on the Mountain Accord’s vision by promoting sustainable mobility, land preservation, and integrated planning, while building consensus around long‑term transportation solutions.

  • -       Rail service in Little Cottonwood Canyon

    -       FrontRunner expansion and electrification

    -       Trax extensions and connections with last mile service

    -       Intercity & commuter rail to places like Park City, Tooele, and Brigham City

  • WATS is building a diversified funding strategy that includes:

    -       Foundation grants

    -       Government partnerships

    -       Corporate sponsorships (e.g., engineering firms, ski resorts, TOD developers)

    -       Grassroots memberships

    -       Crowdfunding & community events

  • Visitors can support WATS by joining the grassroots membership program, participating in outreach activities, attending events, volunteering, or contributing to funding campaigns that drive regional rail advocacy.