Utah Legislature 71119TRA

Download Zipped File WP 6.1 1119TRAM.ZIP 7,010 Bytes

Transportation Interim Committee

MINUTES OF THE
TRANSPORTATION INTERIM COMMITTEE
        Wednesday, November 19, 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. David H. Steele
    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. Richard M. Siddoway
    Rep. David Ure
    Rep. David L. Zolman, Sr.

Members Absent:
    Sen. Eddie "Ed" P. Mayne
    Sen. Nathan C. Tanner
    Rep. Gene Davis
    Rep. Lowell A. Nelson

Members Excused:

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 2:34 p.m.

    MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to approve the minutes of the October 22, 1997 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Beck absent for the vote.

    Police Chief Dennis J. Nordfelt, West Valley Police Department, briefed the committee on the shooting of Officer Idle by Jason Evans during the summer. The briefing was requested by the committee in a previous meeting.

2.     Transportation Code Recodification (Draft Legislation) _ Dee Larsen, Associate General Counsel, explained that this bill would recodify the Highway Code (Title 27) and other sections related to the Department of Transportation. He referred to a handout mailed to the committee prior to the meeting titled, "Transportation Code Recodification." Rep. Dillree agreed to sponsor the bill during the general session.

     MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to approve draft legislation, "Transportation Code Recodification," as a committee recommended bill. The motion passed unanimously.

3.     State Highway Designations _ (Draft Legislation) _ Linda Toy, Utah Department of Transportation, spoke about the changes proposed in draft legislation, "Master Road - State Highway List." She reminded the committee that this is the bill that contains the Transportation Commission's recommended change to the state highway system. This year, the essential changes include a route numbering change in Washington County and a three-block addition in Bountiful to include a highway structure.

     MOTION: Rep. Ure moved to approve draft legislation, "Master Road - State Highway List," as a committee recommended bill. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Zolman absent for the vote. Senator Holmgren agreed to sponsor the bill.

4.     I-15 Reconstruction, Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and Highway Maintenance Program, and Highway Finance Updates _ Clinton Topham, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), briefed the committee on the progress of the STIP and said that 43 major projects were completed and that six projects from FY98 are also completed. He informed the committee of projects that are in the process of completion.

    David Downs, UDOT, spoke about the schedule of the I-15 project. He distributed a report titled, "I-15 Reconstruction Progress Report - November 19, 1997," and summarized the information in the report. Photos of reconstruction projects were handed out, along with two brochures titled, "Interstate 15 - Plan On It," and "The Secret to Rebuilding I-15." He explained future construction projects and the planned process.

    Mr. Downs reported on the current budget and said that UDOT has paid Wasatch Constructors $193 million. He said there will be some change orders, some having no cost implications and others increasing the cost of the project. He said the department will provide the committee with the change orders information. Mr. Downs also said the project is on, or ahead, of schedule.

    Thomas R. Warne, UDOT, spoke about the freeway snow-removal process. He distributed a handout titled, "UDOT/I-15 Reconstruction Project Award Fee Process," and explained what the award fee is and how the process works as detailed in the handout.

    Rep. Allen served on the Transportation Incentive Task Force and spoke favorably about UDOT's award fee procedures.

    Mr. Warne distributed a memo titled, "Fall 1997 I-15 Opinion Research Findings," and summarized the contents of the memo. It included a survey conducted in late August and early September of commuters, general drivers, and businesses to gauge the public's perception of Utah's largest-ever road construction project.

    Mr. Warne also spoke on the subject of federal funding and distributed a handout titled, "Federal Funding Status." He spoke briefly on the Legacy project.

5.    Uninsured Motorist Identification Database Enforcement (Draft Legislation ) _ Sen. David Steele spoke about the database to be used to enforce vehicle insurance and the penalties that should be imposed for not carrying insurance.

    Ben Christensen, Research Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, referred to draft legislation titled, "Reauthorization of and Amendments to Uninsured Motorist Database Program." He reminded the committee that during the last meeting they voted to extend the program for an additional four years and to require annual reporting of the uninsured motorist rate. He explain that this bill put that motion in bill form for committee action. He distributed an amendment to the bill that would clarify that the database program only involves motor vehicles, not trailers or semitrailers.

     MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to incorporate the amendment as written into draft legislation titled, "Reauthorization of and Amendments to Uninsured Motorist Database Program." The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Becker and Rep. Zolman absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Rep. Bigelow moved to approve draft legislation titled, "Reauthorization of and Amendments to Uninsured Motorist Database Program," as amended.

     SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Rep. Allen moved to amend the bill as follows: page 1, line 31, delete "the reduction in the"; delete "uninsured motorists" and insert "insured motor vehicles"; in draft legislation titled, "Reauthorization of and Amendments to Uninsured Motorist Database Program," with corresponding changes on line 6 in the long title. The motion failed with Rep. Allen and Rep. Ure voting in favor of the motion and Rep. Becker was absent for the vote.

    Rep. Bigelow's original motion then failed with Sen. Mansell, Sen. Holmgren, Rep. Allen, Rep. Ure, and Rep. Zolman voting in opposition to the motion and Rep. Becker was absent for the vote.

    Dee Larsen, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, briefed the committee on two draft bills titled, "Enforcement and Penalties of Uninsured Motor Vehicle Violations," and "Penalties for Not Having Motor Vehicle Insurance."

    Mr. Christensen distributed and explained amendments for draft legislation, "Penalties for Not Having Motor Vehicle Insurance.," He said the amendments were suggested by the Driver License Division.

     MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to adopt amendments as written into draft legislation, "Penalties for Not Having Motor Vehicle Insurance." The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Becker absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Rep. Allen moved to amend draft legislation, "Enforcement and Penalties of Uninsured Motor Vehicle Violations," as follows: page 3, line 1: delete "reduce" and insert "assist in reducing"; page 3, line 2: delete "increase" and insert "assist in increasing." The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Becker absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to approve both draft bills titled, "Penalties for Not Having Motor Vehicle Insurance," and "Enforcement and Penalties of Uninsured Motor Vehicle Violations." as committee recommended bills. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Becker absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to reconsider the votes on Rep. Adair's motion. The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to combine the two bills titled, "Penalties for Not Having Motor Vehicle Insurance," and "Enforcement and Penalties of Uninsured Motor Vehicle Violations," and endorse them as a committee recommended bill. The motion passed unanimously.

    Sen. Steele offered to sponsor the bills at the general session.

6.     Highway Jurisdictional Transfers and Financing _ John L. Quick, Utah Department of Transportation, reported on the process for the transfer of appropriate highways between state and local jurisdictions. He said the most significant issue was what funding should accompany the transfers.

    Mr. Warne, UDOT, reported that the process is ongoing and additional time is needed to reach consensus on the transfers, timing, and finances. He also said the department has no intention to transfer a road to a local entity without their agreement.

7.     Other Committee Business -

    Rep. Brian Allen distributed a letter pertaining to the extension of a sales tax exemption to providers of multiple-passenger shuttle service. The letter included a survey for the committee to indicate its level of interest in the subject.

8.     Adjourn -

    MOTION: Rep. Knudsen moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously at 5:05 p.m.

[Back to the Interim Directory][Back to the Monthly Schedule][Back to the Committee Listing] Utah State Legislature