Gary Anderson's responses to News candidate questionnaire

Gary Anderson's responses to questionnaire:

Deseret Morning News: What do you see as the No. 1 issue facing Utah County today, and how would you deal with it?

Gary Anderson: There is no doubt transportation is the No. 1 issue in Utah County today. Anyone who has driven I-15, Lehi Main Street, 400 South in Springville or any number of other roads in the county knows the problem.

We have the president of the Utah State Senate and three of the four top leaders of the Utah House of Representatives living in Utah County and yet we still cannot get the transportation funds which have been allotted to us the last 10 years. We need to put personal agendas aside and work together to obtain the needed funds for transportation.

I will bring the parties back together and get the transportation funds released for Utah County. I would make access roads a priority and find alternate routes for gridlocked areas. We must present a united front. I will lead a coalition of mayors, legislators and county officials to make certain that we, as the second largest county in the state, finally get our share of the transportation dollars.

I would put the quarter-cent sales tax for light and commuter rail on the ballot. Depending on which poll you believe, 76 percent to 84 percent of the citizens of Utah County want commuter and/or light rail. We need to have the issue on the ballot! The claim is the legislators didn't want it on the ballot or the mayors don't want light rail. I suggest you ask a legislator or a mayor.

We are in danger of losing our tracking agreements with Union Pacific Railroad because of inaction. I would immediately get the matter on the ballot and cooperate with UTA to bring light and commuter rail to Utah County. I would also negotiate with UTA for new bus routes for the south county. Southern Utah County is without bus service, and we need expanded service.

Deseret Morning News: The Mountainland Metropolitan Planning Organization recently recommended that the Utah County Commission put on the ballot in November a quarter-cent sales tax increase for transportation and transit. Are you in support of taking such action, and why or why not?