U.S. Senate appropriators approved $80 million in federal money this week to help move the Utah Transit Authority's commuter-rail project a little further down the line toward completion.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation also approved late Tuesday $3 million to widen U.S. 6 near Green River from two to four lanes on a stretch that is often listed as one of the nation's most dangerous highways.

The subcommittee also approved $4.5 million to start preliminary engineering for a TRAX extension from 6400 South in Murray through West Jordan and South Jordan; $750,00 to help build a new highway from Saratoga Springs through Lehi to Interstate 15; and $1 million to help add lanes to I-15 between Kaysville and 31st South in Ogden.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, is a member of the subcommittee and pushed for the funding as part of the annual transportation-appropriations bill. The funding must now be approved by the full Appropriations Committee, the full Senate and the House.

State transportation officials on Wednesday praised the decision.

"It's just one more step in the process, but it's positive to move forward that way," said Carlos Braceras, deputy director of the Utah Department of Transportation.

UTA officials said Wednesday that the $80 million for commuter rail — if ultimately approved — would allow the agency to open the first phase of commuter rail, on time and under budget. The first phase will be 44 miles long, from Salt Lake to Weber County. Commuter rail is planned to eventually stretch from Brigham City to Payson.

"The $80 million is likely going to be our first reimbursement from the federal government to pay for construction of commuter rail," said UTA spokesman Justin Jones. "We will need to go through this process for several years until our agreement with the Federal Transit Administration is complete."

President Bush had included funding for commuter rail in his annual budget request, in anticipation of a full-funding grant agreement for the train system that was signed in June. The grant agreement is a promise from the government to reimburse UTA for 80 percent of the cost of building commuter rail.

Appropriators also included money for a few other Utah projects, including $500,000 for environmental studies in Utah County needed for projects to help relieve congestion and provide alternate routes during the future reconstruction of I-15 there.

The subcommittee also approved $750,000 to help improve the I-15/Bluff Street interchange in St. George; $3.75 million for a variety of bus-facility projects statewide; and $2.5 million for intermodal transportation terminals statewide.

The bill also included language encouraging the Federal Aviation Administration to install a permanent radar system at Provo Municipal Airport. Bennett said lack of such radar creates hazardous conditions and delays incoming traffic.

Also included in the bill was money for economic-development programs in the state. That includes $400,000 for a new municipal office complex for Smithfield, Cache County; $450,000 for a senior-citizen and community center in Salina; $450,000 for senior-citizen housing in Moab; and $200,000 for an affordable-housing project in Ogden.

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