From Deseret News archives:
2nd Salt Lake County vote backs transit funding
Officials again clear way for TRAX and commuter rail
After a month of debate about the legality of a vote last year to fund three rail lines with taxpayer-approved dollars, the expanded Salt Lake County Council of Governments on Monday voted a second time to fund TRAX and commuter rail and the group says the vote is final.
For the Utah Transit Authority, the vote means the agency can continue with plans to build the rail lines, according to Mike Allegra, assistant general manager. The vote also allows the agency to keep a $570 million agreement with the federal government to help pay for construction, he said.
"We're really pleased with the vote," he said.
West Valley Mayor Dennis Nordfelt, in turn, said he would not revisit the funding issue again. Nordfelt is chairman of the Salt Lake County Council of Governments and defended the issue during several meetings with the Legislature.
The idea of a flawed, if not illegal, voting process to fund the rail lines was raised after a legislative audit in October that said the process the county used to pick the lines had a math error. Legislators then called on the county to take a second vote on the issue using a corrected process.
Monday's vote was done with the new process, but ultimately county mayors and members of the Salt Lake County Council said the rail lines, in addition to reconstruction of I-80, should be built for a variety of reasons, including the $570 million in federal funding and also a perceived voter approval. Marc Crockett, chairman of the Salt Lake County Council, made a motion to use some of the tax dollars for a special fund to pay for any litigation costs against the Mountain View Corridor. Legislators, including Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, had mentioned in previous discussions that they worried transit was being wrongly placed ahead of Mountain View in terms of the county's priorities.
Crockett's motion failed. His colleague, Councilman Joe Hatch, said his motion was illegal because lawmakers had only authorized the county to fund rail or roads with the tax money. Voters approved the tax increase last November. It was a quarter-cent sales tax hike.
Allegra said his agency would work with the Legislature to help find resources to fund Mountain View. "We pledge our support to help them with roads, particularly the Mountain View Corridor," he said.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Recent comments
The Destruction of The Bus System Light Rail is
moving full speed...
Tammi Diaz | Nov. 27, 2007 at 7:26 p.m.
Even our most densely populated area--the SLC "metro" area has a...
Rail is too expensive | Nov. 27, 2007 at 11:54 a.m.
Salt Lake County is one of the smallest counties in Utah but we have...
Salt Lake County is different | Nov. 27, 2007 at 10:40 a.m.
- Adult sports leagues offered 3:19 p.m.
- Oil prices spike 3:06 p.m.
- Stocks turn higher 3:03 p.m.
- Nature's Way leaving Utah County 3:02 p.m.
- Notre Dame fires Weis 2:52 p.m.
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet 2:51 p.m.
- Mansion tours begin Tuesday 2:48 p.m.
- Chaffetz: Leave Afghanistan 2:37 p.m.
- Mitchell's 'books' are coherent 2:24 p.m.
- Mexican consulate in SLC dies 1:47 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
891 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
366 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
251 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
208 - Utes won't respond to Hall
143 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
118 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
91
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
Any fan on the field is breaking the law. Anything that happens after that...
who are calling for Max to be suspended from the bowl game are really...
I don't think a verbal repremand is enought. I think he should be sidelined...
Animal research is a money game. The poeple who work in these labs are only...
Utes conference finish the last 5 years.....2009-3rd, 2008-1st, 2007-tied for...
I admit it is frustrating, why we do get more injuries than any team it seems...
I would like to say to all those people who think an artist speaks for the...
Pronta recuperacion ha la familia.
see Desert News Associated press Nov 30 2009 1:37 pm mst COURT WON'T REVIVE...
One thing is clear based on the multitude of classless messages throughout...


