From Deseret News archives:
Battle lines drawn over road transfers
After listening Tuesday to a litany of concerns from local government officials, state lawmakers said they were more than aware of the challenges facing a plan to shift some state roads to city or county control.
They pledged, however, to continue moving forward with that plan.
"We want to be a proactive task force that accomplishes its goals," said Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights, co-chair of the state Highway Jurisdictional Transfer Task Force.
In the past, Walker and other members of the task force have said transferring some roads would allow the state to more efficiently manage its resources. Sometimes local governments have the ability to maintain roads at less cost than the state.
City and county officials said repeatedly during Tuesday's task force meeting that the idea is fraught with roadblocks. The top concern: how to distribute funding for management and maintenance of the roads.
Members of the task force have yet to determine how state funding would be attached to roads that are transferred. Carlos Braceras, deputy director of the Utah Department of Transportation, recommended the state review historical maintenance costs to determine a funding solution.
Local officials said funding solutions should be equitable.
"We have some definite concerns that it would tax our county and resources to have to take over these roads," said Millard County Commissioner John Cooper.
Like UDOT, local governments have said they have limited funds to manage roads currently under their jurisdiction. Also, local officials say transferring roads will do little to solve the state's $16 billion deficit for funding new road projects over the next 25 years.
"The system works fairly well," said Brian Bremner, Garfield County engineer. "We need to realize the efficiencies we get from jurisdictional transfer are fairly small."
Over the next two weeks, UDOT officials will review and compile the historic costs of maintaining the roads that may be transferred. They will also determine if those roads are scheduled to receive dollars for maintenance and pavement preservation over the next three years.
UDOT already has created and distributed a list of 499 miles of state road that are a "priority one" for transfer. Cities and counties have been asked by lawmakers to review and fine-tune the list.
During the next meeting of the task force, members will review current funding mechanisms for city and county roads. The meeting is scheduled for July 21.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
