Lawmakers deny the suggestion, saying that they simply want more information before making a decision.

"I really don't care what projects come out on top," said Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, a member of the committee approving the process. "I care that there's an objective process to measure the projects by. That's all we asked."

During the committee meeting this week, county officials presented legislators with an outline of the process and were prepared to speak about the specifics of the process. Killpack said it was a "nice outline" but that he "looks forward to seeing the actual description."

Joe Hatch, a Salt Lake County Council member, said Friday that the process now is such that commuter rail and two TRAX lines will definitely receive funding. The other two TRAX lines to the airport and Draper are on the bubble and won't be funded if more roads receive money, he said.

If the airport line and perhaps the Draper line don't receive funding, Hatch said that would be an "outrageous breach to the people that voted for this." He added that he would push the County Council to then refuse to implement the tax increase.

Dan Jones & Associates has done surveys in the past for the Utah Transit Authority.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com