Lawmaker pushes measure that would dissolve UTA

This time next year, at least one lawmaker hopes the state — and not the Utah Transit Authority — is operating all the buses and trains that run along the Wasatch Front.

A bill has been proposed by Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, that would dissolve UTA, put all the local taxes that fund the agency into the state's general fund, and have the Utah Department of Transportation assume control of systems like TRAX and the bus.

UTA officials, the League of Cities and Towns, and several business leaders are strongly opposed to the measure, HB166. Bruce Jones, UTA's attorney, said if the bill were approved, it could cost the state millions, and possibly delay construction of new TRAX lines and the FrontRunner commuter rail line.

There is also a possibility that current transit services along the Wasatch Front could be impacted, because UDOT has never operated a transit system. Its primary focus is to build and maintain state roads.

"There are many uncertainties," Jones said about the measure. "When you have a major structural change like this, the best case scenario is that there will be significant delays on projects. Delay means a significant cost increase."

In addition, Jones said the measure could impact how UTA gets federal funding for projects, and also the state's bond rating. By putting all of the agency's funding into the state general fund, the state would be assuming billions in debt for projects that have yet to be built, but have been bonded for construction.

"It seems to me that maybe they're trying to fix something that isn't broken and in fact, is working very well," Jones said.

But Harper, who said he has been working on the bill for at least two years, said the measure could streamline how transportation projects are built in the state. Right now, roads and transit are dealt with separately, and sometimes decisions are made to build one project, like transit, when a road would have dealt with congestion better, Harper said.

In December, local leaders in Salt Lake County voted to spend money from a quarter-cent sales tax increase approved by voters during the November election primarily on transit. Some lawmakers were upset at the move, saying that the money should have gone toward roads.

Harper said the bill was not a retribution bill aimed at Salt Lake County.