From Deseret News archives:

S.L. Council backs funds for TRAX line

Published: Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008 9:23 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Funding for a TRAX line to the airport is finally secured.

The Salt Lake County Council on Tuesday approved an agreement to divert a portion of car-registration fees to come up with $35 million to pay for the mass-transit line.

Overall, the council was on board with the agreement, which passed with an 8-1 vote. But most of the council members didn't like the fact they were left out of the last-minute maneuverings of the Legislature.

"You guys negotiated this without us," Councilman Joe Hatch told a representative from the Utah Transit Authority and Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. "I got to admit, that seems extremely bizarre."

The city thought it had a plan to fund its $35 million commitment for the light-rail line through airport improvement funds, but the Legislature stopped that in its tracks after Delta Air Lines officials balked.

Then, within the waning hours of the past legislative session, lawmakers decided that the city should use a portion of the $10 fee Salt Lake County residents pay when registering their vehicles to pay for airport TRAX.

Story continues below
"We had a source of funding within Salt Lake City — the Legislature decided to pull away that funding for the city," Becker said. "They directed this."

Technically, Salt Lake County is in charge of divvying up vehicle registration fee revenue, and if leaders there ever decided to stop giving that revenue to the city, the city would be in a bind, since it is now locked in a 30-year bond agreement with UTA.

Recent comments

Seriously why do we even need local governments? we have the Utah...

Anonymous | Aug. 6, 2008 at 7:25 a.m.

Hurry up already!! It should have been done for the SLC Olympics....

Snail's pace | Aug. 6, 2008 at 7:19 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Jazz game at a glance

When is the last time a Jazz player attempted 8 threes? It must have been a...

Schools are not daycare people!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough said.

Mayors compete for charity

The winning Mayor should bike from one city to the other.

When will Matheson ever learn? He should cast his lot with health insurance...

Droid is cool computer in a phone

Or you can pick up a refurbed "pet rock" Tracfone like mine for ten bucks and...

Senators want food tax restored

This is stupid, if the legislature felt pressured by a statement like, "I...

Are we really better off now than in the era of cronkite? If so, and this is...

Dreams can be achieved without going to BOA. This group of students have...

Hatch empathizes with Muslims

Once again Orin Hatch talks out of turn. I think it is time to muzzle him.

Not a priority in Utah.

Advertisements
Advertisement