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Transportation Interim Committee

MINUTES OF THE

TRANSPORTATION INTERIM COMMITTEE

        
Wednesday, June 18, 1997 - 2:00 p.m. - 403 State Capitol


Members Present:
    Sen. John P. Holmgren,
        Senate Chair
    Rep. Marda Dillree,
        House Chair
    Sen L. Alma Mansell
    Sen. Eddie "Ed" P. Mayne
    Sen. David H. Steele
    Sen. Nathan C. Tanner
    Rep. Gerry A. Adair
    Rep. Brian R. Allen
    Rep. Trisha S. Beck
    Rep. Ralph Becker
    Rep. Ron Bigelow
    Rep. DeMar "Bud" Bowman
    Rep. Don E. Bush
    Rep. Brad King
    Rep. Peter C. Knudson
    Rep. Joseph G. Murray
    Rep. Lowell A. Nelson
    Rep. Richard M. Siddoway
    Rep. David Ure
    Rep. David L. Zolman, Sr.


Members Absent:
    Rep. Gene Davis

Staff Present:
    Benjamin N. Christensen,
        Research Analyst
    Dee S Larsen,
        Associate General Counsel
    Junie G. Anderson,
        Committee Secretary

Note:    A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.    Committee Business - Chair Holmgren called the meeting to order at 2:39 p.m.

    MOTION: Rep. Ure moved to approve the minutes of the May 21, 1997 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Adair, Rep. Beck, and Rep. Nelson absent for the vote.

2.    Transportation Code Recodification - Ben Christensen, Research Analyst, reported on the recodification of highway statutes. He distributed an outline titled "1997 Transportation Interim Committee Recodification Project." He explained that the outline is a proposed draft of the major chapter and part divisions of a new transportation code as requested by the committee in the April meeting. He asked for comments and questions and explained that staff would be working with UDOT and other interested parties to bring the affected sections into a draft bill. He said a draft list of the sections that would go into each chapter is available upon request.
        
3.    Salt Lake City International Airport - 1997 Airport Master Plan - Russ Widmar, Executive Director, Salt Lake City Airport Authority, briefed the committee on the plan. Steve Domino, Director of Planning and Environmental Programs, Salt Lake City Airport Authority, gave a presentation of the 1997 Airport Master Plan. A booklet was distributed titled "1997 Airport

Master Plan - Executive Summary." The primary focus of the plan is on terminal area expansion, cargo growth, general aviation activity, and parking.
    
4.    Statewide Airport Improvement Program - Due to time constraints because of the governor's calling of a Special Session of the Legislature, this item was postponed until the July 16 meeting.

5.    I-15 Reconstruction Update - Cash Flow Projections - Thomas R. Warne, Utah Department of Transportation, gave a slide presentation and briefed the committee on the reconstruction of I-15 in Salt Lake County from 600 North to 10800 South. He advised the committee that Wasatch Constructors is approximately one month ahead of schedule. He distributed a map titled "Centennial Projects" and defined the upcoming projects. Handouts titled "Other Projects Funded with Centennial Funds," and "Department of Transportation Centennial Highway Trust Fund," were also distributed.

    Mr. Warne explained the funding sources of the centennial highway endowment fund. He said UDOT is working with Congress to secure federal funding and asking for priority because of the Olympics. He said $1.9 billion has been requested for highway projects specific to the Olympics, and the amount agreed to by the Legislature and the governor is $450 million in projected federal funds for the projects.

    David Downs, Utah Department of Transportation, spoke regarding the cash flow needs of the I-15 reconstruction project and gave an update on the centennial highway endowment fund. He also spoke about the progress of the design/build team. He said the projected cash flow has to be revised. He explained that because of the accelerated I-15 project and the additional work on the centennial highway endowment fund projects, there is an increase of approximately $350 million needed. Mr. Warne said the additional cash flow is required to keep the I-15 project and the centennial highway endowment fund projects on track. In order to increase cash flow, he said the options are to (1) delay projects; (2) raise taxes; and (3) sell more bonds and sell them sooner. He felt selling more bonds and selling them sooner would be the best option.

    Rep. Adair asked Mr. Downs to provide an estimate of costs the state would incur should the project be finished before the estimated date.

    Kent Mitchie, Zions Bank Public Finance, explained that the state has a ten-year payoff and paying the bond off sooner is not available.

6.    Other Committee Business -

7.    Adjourn -

    MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously at 4:00 p.m.

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