PROVO — Radar might be placed at the Provo Municipal Airport after all, but it might depend on whether the Utah Legislature is willing to provide $2 million.

Nearly a year ago, the Federal Aviation Administration said Provo didn't qualify for radar, even though Provo and Salt Lake leaders and airport officials were willing to place a proposed station at the Point of the Mountain instead of the airport.

On Thursday, an FAA official indicated the agency is willing to match $2 million in funding to put radar in Provo, Provo Mayor Lewis Billings said.

"We have a verbal commitment that if we can find the $2 million, they'll supply the rest," he said.

The FAA also agreed to send a representative to Utah during the legislative session to explain the technology to legislators and explain the agency's commitment to radar in Provo and its willingness to match funds.

"It's a real stride forward," Billings said. "The FAA is trying to work with us."

Billings has tried for several years to persuade the FAA that radar is necessary, with the support of the Salt Lake City Department of Airports, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah.

Radar in Utah Valley could benefit not only Provo but airports in Spanish Fork, Salt Lake City and West Jordan because Utah Valley is bowl-shaped and air traffic in the valley below 8,000 feet is invisible to radar at Salt Lake International.

That regional need should convince the Legislature to pitch in the money, Billings said, but state Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said the city would have to pitch in some of the cash.

"It's really exciting," Bramble said. "It would be a great asset for Provo, but there's pretty broad-based consensus that for the state to participate, there has to be Provo money in it."

Billings and Bramble said the radar's location is unimportant.

"Provo doesn't care where it goes," Billings said. We're after function, not bragging rights. It would appear at this point the (proposed radar) would be located on the Provo airport, likely on the same spot the other radar was during the Olympics. If a site study says it should go somewhere else, we want it to go where it provides the best function."

Utah officials had sought a radar system that would cost $12 million. Billings said using an older, more available radar and putting it on the same platform used during the 2002 Winter Olympics would cost less, between $4 million and $5 million, and be available sooner.

Some help came Wednesday when Congress voted to earmark $750,000 for radar in Provo.

"We had hoped to get more money," Billings said, "but these earmarks are very competitive."