From Deseret News archives:
Legacy lawsuit is all but settled
At about 10:30 p.m. Monday, the Utah Department of Transportation and plaintiffs in the 2001 suit that halted construction of the Legacy Parkway signed off on a final settlement agreement involving the 14-mile roadway from North Salt Lake to Farmington.
Now all that's left is for the Legislature to vote yes or no on the settlement agreement, which could lead to construction of the parkway this spring. A special session to approve the deal is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 9.
The final agreement is the result of more than a month of work by the Legislature to define and clarify provisions in a framework agreement signed last month by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and a representative from the Sierra Club.
The framework agreement included the following provisions: a ban on trucks, no billboards, speed limit reduced to 55 mph and $2.5 million for a transit study in south Davis County.
In drafting the final agreement, the ban on "trucks" proved to be the most contentious issue in that lawmakers and the plaintiffs disagreed on how a "truck" should be defined.
John Njord, UDOT executive director, said Monday was another milestone for the state in its efforts to get Legacy built. As of now, he said, the plan is to call a special session on Nov. 9 to either approve or reject the deal.
The governor's office has yet to formally agree to the special session date. When the special session is called, lawmakers will have to approve two pieces of legislation: one banning "trucks" on the roadway; the other, the final Legacy settlement.
"What's important to know here is that we have found some solutions that will avoid future litigation on this project," said Njord.
But whether the Legislature will approve the agreement remains to be seen. Votes are still tenuous in the House; the Senate appears likely to agree to it.
"We certainly still have work to do in the Legislature," said Njord.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Comments
- Iranian Consulate fatally shot 7:49 a.m.
- AP poll: Family dinner survives 7:47 a.m.
- Palestinian election may be called off 7:45 a.m.
- Balloon boy parents to plead guilty 7:44 a.m.
- Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia 7:43 a.m.
- Intel to pay AMD $1.25B settlement 7:42 a.m.
- Jobless claims fall to 502K 7:40 a.m.
- Obama to want revised war options 7:39 a.m.
- Will state consider gay rights law? 7:11 a.m.
- Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia 1:18 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Crash kills Utah County man
- Long days for BYU interns
- Will state consider gay rights law?
- House passes health care bill
287 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
249 - TCU showdown has big implications
194 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
95
This week, I'm compiling my annual list of restaurants serving...
As much as Rick may be guilty, as I believe he his, he does have his rights...
There seems to be a lot of WAC and Utah State envy posted.
Or perhaps Obama, like Putin, doesn't think the demise of totalitarianism is...
Rex Lee was one of the finest men I have ever know. The post office renaming...
Re: John- you saw the BYU player elbow the UNM player. What was not shown...
I'd sooner have my choir director get rich by ripping me off rather than a...
Cartman, you probably never donated money to them in the first place. How do...
Since when did losing all those first round NCAA games become a jinx. The MW...
AMEN!!!! I've talked to my supervisors about this for the last 7 or 8 years...
Now there are two people with brain damage,the mother and the child.


You can be the first to comment on this story.