Utahns give green light to bonding

"If you bond for something, transportation is one of the best places that you can bond," he said. "That's primarily because number one, you'll see returns through economic growth, and probably even more importantly, the money that you spend by and large stays in the local economy."

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City, even agreed with the issuance of bonds, although he said he would have liked authorization to spend that money on transit as well as roads. And more money could have been put toward education, he said.

"Bonding, to me, makes sense when you're investing in infrastructure like corridors or highways, or rail lines and heavy capital expenditures," he said. "To me, that makes sense."

UDOT is scheduled to appear before lawmakers sometime this summer to discuss what projects it thinks should be built with the $1 billion bond. Money from the $100 million Mountain View bond cannot be used until the state finds people willing to sell their property.

Up to 179 homes, 20 businesses and 11 historic properties may be impacted by Mountain View if UDOT decided to build it at 5800 West — the agency's preferred alternative for the highway. The state has authority to use eminent domain, but only as a last resort.

---

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com