State officials plan to look at existing roads as an option for expanded parking during the upcoming legislative session.

The Capitol Preservation Board decided Thursday to restripe East Capitol Boulevard and portions of 500 North to allow for angled parking in the middle of the streets, a move that could double the available street parking. Currently, parking is perpendicular on only one side of East Capitol Boulevard and parallel along 500 North.

The restriping project, which would still need the approval of the Utah Department of Transportation, is part of an overall plan adopted by the board to handle the significant parking crunch which is expected once the Legislature convenes its 2006 general session Jan. 16.

Much of the plan was proposed by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. last week, with the brunt of the changes being handled administratively. They include:

• Opening temporary satellite offices and a "State Internet Cafe" at the Utah State Fairpark for state employees to telecommute. A free shuttle will be provided between the Fairpark and state Capitol for employees as well.

• Limiting the number of parking spots allotted to state agencies, in hopes that employees will either work off-site, carpool, or take the free Capitol shuttle bus.

• Legislative staff, both temporary and those relocated from underground parking by legislators, will be allotted 75 spots in two state parking lots.

• Approximately 65 construction workers, out of nearly 250, will park inside the fenced construction area.

The state is also looking at shuttling legislative interns and other temporary staff from one of the parking lots in downtown Salt Lake, said Bryant Howe, assistant director of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel. The stumbling blocks have been potential costs — as much as $700 for a shuttle, plus the rental of the parking lot — and the fact that it is not clear which lots would be available throughout the session. Most of the ones being considered are owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has not finalized construction plans for its downtown holdings.

Sen. Al Mansell, R-Midvale, said that the costs should not be a concern and that there are probably ways to reduce them. For example, the state could use vans from the University of Utah — Utah State University is already donating two vans to shuttle employees from the Fairpark — and avoid the charges from a private provider.

"We'll find the money — don't worry about that," he told the board. "We just want to see this resolved."

Despite the parking crunch, the state will actually have more parking spots available around the Capitol this year with the shifting of some state workers to the Fairpark, said David Hart, executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board. However, because of restricted parking areas being instituted by Salt Lake City in most of the surrounding neighborhoods and an increase in the number of construction workers, the parking will be much more limited.

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com