Roads bill undergoes makeover

A bill that would have meant a billion-dollar makeover for U.S. 6 was amended Tuesday, making it less likely that the deadly rural road will receive full funding for fixes this year.

The changes to HB369, however, may mean more money for other road projects in the state — including reconstruction of I-15 in Utah County.

Under the amended bill, the state would be authorized to issue $1.3 billion in general obligation bonds for "state highway construction or reconstruction projects." Decisions on how to spend that money would be left to the state Transportation Commission, a seven-member group that approves and prioritizes funding and projects for the Utah Department of Transportation.

But some lawmakers said after the bonding bill was amended and passed by the House Transportation Committee that they will attempt to get an earmark for U.S. 6 when the bill is debated on the House floor.

Glen Brown, commission chairman, said if HB369 is passed in its present form he would lean toward giving the bond money to U.S. 6, but not all. The original bill dedicated all of the $1.3 billion in borrowed money to Highway 6.

"I think that's where I would go first because of that intent," Brown said. "But I don't assume or expect it could all be spent there."

Reconstruction on I-15 in Utah County has been identified by the commission, through a lengthy selection process, as one of the top priorities to receive funding in the state.

While funding for that project would benefit his constituents, Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem, who sponsored HB369, said he was disappointed with the committee's decision to amend his bill.

"If not us, who? If not now, when?" he asked committee members. "How long are we going to sit there and let U.S. 6 fall to the bottom of someone's priority list and not get rebuilt? It's time for this Legislature to do this."

Over the past eight years, more than $115 million has been spent to improve the rural highway. Fatalities have decreased during that time, but the road, which runs from Spanish Fork, through Price and then intersects with I-70, continues to be a magnet for deadly automobile crashes.

Last year, 13 people died on U.S. 6. Most of the accidents were head-on collisions, caused by motorists who drifted into oncoming traffic. UDOT proposes expanding the road to four lanes, and adding a center passing lane but lacks $1 billion in funding to do so.