From Deseret News archives:
UTA kicks off campaign for transit tax hike
They've only got 30 days to win voter support. Friday, business leaders and elected officials from both counties kicked off a campaign supporting the tax hike, known as "Proposition 3" in Salt Lake County and the "Opinion Question" in Utah County.
"This is a discussion and a vote for economic development," said Scott Anderson, president of Zions Bank and co-chair of the 2015 Transportation Alliance during a campaign kick-off on Friday.
He continued: "This is a vote to keep Utah moving."
Both Proposition 3 and the Opinion Question call for a quarter-cent sales tax increase to fund road and rail projects. In Utah County, much of the tax money would go to build some road projects and commuter rail between Provo and the Salt Lake County line.
In Salt Lake County, no specific projects have been identified to receive the funding. Before the projects can be identified, county leaders must get legislative approval of a scientific process they created to pick the projects. That approval could be as early as Oct. 17, or after the election.
A recent poll done by Dan Jones & Associates for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV showed that 61 percent of county residents would vote for a quarter-cent tax increase for transportation improvements. The poll of 366 residents was conducted Sept. 25-28. It had a margin of error of 5.1 percent.
During the campaign kick-off, supporters passed out buttons, lawn signs and sheets of paper asking for endorsements and donations. The Utah Transit Authority also unveiled a new commuter rail car for its FrontRunner commuter rail system. The car is a bi-level vehicle with 150 seats. About 240 people can fill the car when standing.
Steve Meyer, UTA manager of commuter rail construction, said Friday that the transit agency is about 40 percent finished with its first phase of commuter rail, from Pleasant View in Weber County to Salt Lake City.
As of last month, about 10 miles of rail had been laid. The first-phase of commuter rail will be 44 miles. It is scheduled to open in late 2007 or early 2008.
Supporters of the two transit initiatives have launched a new Web site for their campaign: www.votefor3.com.
Next week, they plan to launch several radio and television ads. No organized oppositions groups have been identified yet.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Comments
- Huntsman Sr. speaks at Y. devotional 4:35 p.m.
- Utah gas up an average of 2 cents 4:31 p.m.
- Study: Mentoring makes difference 4:26 p.m.
- American Fork band raises funds 4:24 p.m.
- Fatal crash closes I-84 in Weber Co. 3:50 p.m.
- Fire damages Taylorsville home 3:25 p.m.
- Concert to benefit Ugandan children 3:22 p.m.
- Senate committee approves Voros 3:21 p.m.
- Mya tops fellow celebs 3:16 p.m.
- Stocks zigzag after rally 2:53 p.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Senators want food tax restored
- Utes get extra motivation
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- Lobo land like home for BYU lineman
- Price injured; Miles has cast removed
- House passes health care bill
257 - TCU showdown has big implications
186 - Lobo suspended
184 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
143 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
104 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants nationwide will honor...
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
From reading about this incident on another site, I learned that what the BYU...
Comparing the two different cases is like comparing apples and oranges. In...
Bitter hateful nasty.....but donate to charity....just one step above a liberal!
Creating discrimination protection for one group is inherently...
I did not know poor people ate less? Thanks GOP leaders for your thoughtful...
he took his mistress to the crystal inn in salt lake city. the police never...
You THunder Chickens are gonna get rolled, won't even be close... You guys...
Re: Little Brother Get your facts straight before you mouth off. Since...
Is this the pagan webpage or is this the DNEWS....who gave this guy the free...
Two leading Republicans propose another $140 million food tax on the poor. Is...




You can be the first to comment on this story.