Salt Lake County Council delays vote on commuter-rail, TRAX funds

The expanded COG is scheduled to meet again Nov. 26 for the re-vote. The Salt Lake County Council would then have to vote to ratify an agreement with the Utah Transit Authority to allow the agency to use the tax money to pay for construction of two new TRAX lines and commuter rail.

The four Democrats on the County Council wanted to move forward Thursday and finalize the inter-local agreement with UTA based on the list of prioritized projects approved nearly a year ago. However, the five Republicans wanted to wait.

Councilman Michael Jensen said he didn't see the harm in waiting a few weeks, since the project list likely won't change.

"Do I think at the end of the day the same priorities will come out? Absolutely," Jensen said.

The Utah County Commission approved a similar inter-local agreement on Tuesday to direct a sales-tax increase to commuter rail. However, the vote was contingent upon the Salt Lake County Council's approval Thursday of commuter-rail funding.

Since that vote didn't happen, Utah County will have to continue to wait. Utah County Commissioner Larry Ellertson said he hopes the delay won't change the commission's vote.

"(Our decision) is subject to them getting this all worked out," Ellertson said. "I think we're still on track."

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Contributing: Catherine Smith.

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com; ldethman@desnews.com