From Deseret News archives:
Did Utah County 'fumble' at Capitol?
With minutes remaining in the 2005 Legislative session, Utah County leaders figuratively "dropped the ball" on legislation to benefit the county's commuters.
They also received no funding for a distance learning center at Utah Valley State College and suffered a setback with an annexation bill.
Lawmakers and lobbyists are laughing at the losses. Transportation planners are lamenting lost opportunities: Utah County was supposed to be a powerhouse this session, with a high number of legislative leaders hailing from "Happy Valley."
"They had a wonderful one-time opportunity here," said John Inglish, general manager of the Utah Transit Authority. "All they got was a couple of bucks and a Band-Aid."
Inglish was referring to two transportation bills that didn't pass in the waning minutes of the session. HB18 provided a mechanism for $30 million to go to expansion of I-15 in Utah County. SB183, which was amended late Wednesday in the Senate, called for unification of Utah County as a transit district and provided for a special election to raise taxes for transit.
"It's up to them now," said Inglish. "The way it stands right now, there is no mechanism that will allow Utah County (commuter rail) to be built. There are no operating funds for it, and there are no capital funds for it, and we have plenty of projects to focus on."
Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, laments the losses. "We fumbled," he said.
But the game's not over yet.
On April 20, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has called a special session to debate HB135, which challenges the reach of the "No Child Left Behind" program into Utah schools. A bill to raise salaries for the state's executives will likely be on the agenda and HB18.
While some provisions of HB18 may not pass including a section that proposed diversion of millions in sales tax dollars to transportation Valentine is confident Utah County will get its $30 million for I-15.
"It's like sitting in the third quarter of the football game and you fumble," he said. "If you've got a good team and you feel you can put that score on the board, you'll win. I've got a good team, we're in the third quarter, and I believe in the ability of the team to finish it."
While commuter rail is seen to be "critical" for residents who sit in congestion on I-15 each morning, Utah County leaders say the transit bill may have to wait until next year.
Expansion of I-15 comes first.
"By putting additional fill lanes (from the Point of the Mountain to 1300 South in Provo), it has two advantages," he said. "It gives us additional carrying capacity and it gives us the ability to add two lanes each way. It also buys us time to do the commuter rail solution, which we're trying to get the residents to embrace in Utah County."
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Comments
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...



You can be the first to comment on this story.