To maintain our quality of life and improve our economic vitality, we must invest wisely in our transportation infrastructure. Of course, funding is tight, and several projects have been deferred due to a lack of funds. In 2002, UDOT cancelled nine road projects worth $21 million due to a lack of funds. At the same time, over $2 billion of future highway projects were unfunded. Furthermore, federal-to-local matching grants for local transit have decreased from 80/20 to 50/50, and a large portion of the recent Centennial Highway projects were financed by allocations from the state general fund that otherwise could have gone to education and other services. Although the task will not be easy, we must find funding for transportation investments.

A. Shortfalls in Highway and Mass Transit Funding.

Utah's transportation needs over the next 25 years have been estimated at over $30 billion. Based on current levels of funding, this will result in a funding deficit of $23.6 billion. Utah's residents and businesses need a plan to ensure that our transportation needs are met. Inadequate transportation funding threatens our safety and our quality of life.

— Congestion. Congestion is increasing throughout the state, particularly in northern Utah County. A recent national study, "The 2004 Urban Mobility Report," ranked the Salt Lake metropolitan area the sixth most-congested region of its size in the country, with the average commuter stuck in traffic delays for an average of 32 hours per year. This represents significant time away from our families and recreational activities. At current funding levels, the amount of time Utahns spend in traffic congestion per year will nearly triple in the next 25 years.

— Safety. Some of our roads, like U.S. 6 from Green River to Springville, pose safety risks and need maintenance.

— Conflicts between traffic and adjoining land uses. Many of these conflicts, such as the interstate truck traffic through downtown Moab, require immediate attention.

Although Wasatch Front residents now have the beginnings of a successful light rail system, our support for mass transit is insufficient. We spend less per capita on transit than almost every other metropolitan area. Per capita spending on UTA's system is $31 per person per year, while Denver spends $56, and Dallas $99. Other regional rivals, Portland and Seattle, respectively spend $111 and $125 per person on transit. Nationally, the average per capita spending in metropolitan areas served by a transit system is $68. Failure to plan for and invest in preserving rights-of-way for future light-rail lines will limit the coverage of a regional transit system and amount of transit oriented development for generations to come.

Utah citizens and businesses deserve a more complete transportation approach, and we need to adequately fund programs that most efficiently address our needs.

B. Finding Innovative Ways to Fund Transportation Projects