UDOT, however, is currently conducting a HOT lanes feasibility study and is considering recommending to the commission a pilot program that would convert all I-15 carpool lanes into HOT lanes by late 2006 or shortly thereafter. That is when UDOT expects to finish adding two carpool lanes — one in each direction — in Utah County, between Alpine and University Parkway in Provo.

UDOT officials plan to ask the Transportation Commission for approval to use a recent one-time appropriation of $30 million from the Legislature to help pay for the addition of the Utah County carpool lanes.

That intention drew criticism Wednesday from Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, who would rather see UDOT use that money for the planned widening of I-15 from 31st Street to 2700 North in Ogden/Weber County. UDOT has only $180 million available for the project and therefore plans to complete the work only as far as 12th Street, or perhaps 450 North.

Cutting the project short only "exacerbates the (congestion) problem we now have in Riverdale," Dee said.

Transportation Commission chairman Glen Brown, a former speaker of the Utah House, told committee members the original estimated cost for that project was $50 million but it had climbed to $235 million two years ago.

"So we're that much short and probably some more because of the time period," Brown said, noting the Legislature made the decision on how much additional state money would be used for upcoming road construction projects.

"We're trying to deal with the most pressing needs across the state."

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E-mail: zman@desnews.com