A summit on roads and transit

Government officials and business leaders are to meet for an all-day summit today to discuss growing transportation problems in Utah — and how to best fund current needs for new roads and transit projects.

The summit was arranged by the governor's office. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert has said in past interviews that the goal of the summit is to receive ideas for a transportation initiative he and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. want to propose in the coming months.

Topics of the summit include funding, innovative solutions to transportation needs, government partnerships and how to utilize multiple modes of transportation.

Utah's congressional delegation will be in attendance.

On Thursday, the lieutenant governor's office released the results of a survey sent to a list of about 6,000 people. About 53 percent of respondents said they were unaware of a $4.5 billion shortfall for new road projects over the next decade.

Over the past two years, state officials and transportation planners have been citing concerns that current transportation funding won't meet needs. Over the next decade, Utah is facing a $7 billion shortfall for both road and transit projects.