A short story and parliamentary maneuvering left Utah road builders and some GOP lawmakers in the lurch late Wednesday.

With 15 minutes left in the legislative session, a bill that could have shuffled millions into transportation — and help pay for debts like the Legacy Parkway — was left to die on the Senate floor.

Democrats successfully delayed the measure after Sen. Ron Allen, D-Stansbury Park, stood and began "harking" back to the history of transportation funding in the state.

"It's been a long road," he said, drawing laughs from fellow senators. "But I'm not certain at this time we want to take and earmark this much money this far out and tie legislators' hands."

While transportation did receive $120 million in new dollars this session, HB18 called for an even greater diversion of money in the future — which would have greatly benefited Utah County.

Under HB18, $30 million of the cash reserved for transportation was to be placed into a new account called the Transportation Investment Fund. The money would have been used for projects not listed under Centennial for which expansion of I-15 in Utah County is a priority.

With the measure, $130 million in sales tax dollars would have been shifted in fiscal year 2007 into the Centennial Highway Fund, which was created in 1997 to fund projects like Legacy and reconstruction of I-15.

An additional $170 million would have been shifted in 2008.

While subject to legislative approval, Democrats and educators said the bill siphoned dollars from schoolchildren, health programs and treatment plans for drug offenders.

"The debate on transportation needs to be broader and heard by more people," Allen said. "For a bill like that to receive 15 minutes of attention, that's not right."

Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights, called the filibuster a disappointment.

"I'm not quite sure what the ramifications will be," said Walker.

But she does know that the bill will be brought back for debate during a special legislative session April 20.

Transportation planners said the ramifications will be felt increasingly in years to come. Officials with the Wasatch Front Regional Council project that billions are needed to build road and transit projects and provide congestion relief.

"Obviously, we gained some new money, but all that does in the short run is keep the existing Centennial Highway Fund solvent," said Sam Klemm, spokesman for the Regional Council. "It didn't buy any new projects."

The money also didn't benefit Utah County, where lawmakers were open in their desire to fund expansion of I-15.

Because the bill didn't pass, the money will likely go toward payment of Centennial Highway projects, said Carlos Braceras, deputy director of the Utah Department of Transportation.

Senate President John Valentine said Thursday that the bill will be debated during a special legislative session April 20 to work out kinks in that appropriations process.

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Contributing: Associated Press

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com