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Transportation Interim Committee

MINUTES OF THE

TRANSPORTATION INTERIM COMMITTEE

        
Wednesday, June 17, 1998 - 9:00 a.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
    Rep. Gerry A. Adair
    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:
    Sen. Nathan C. Tanner
    Rep. Brian R. Allen
    Rep. Trisha S. Beck
    Rep. Ralph Becker
    Rep. Gene Davis

Staff Present:
    Benjamin N. Christensen,
        Research Analyst
    Dee S Larsen,
        Associate General Counsel
    Junie G. Anderson,
        Legislative 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 Dillree called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

    MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to approve the minutes of the May 20, 1998 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. King, Rep. Nelson, Rep. Ure, and Rep. Zolman absent for the vote.

2.     Public Transit Issues - Mr. Benjamin Christensen, Research Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, distributed a handout titled "Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century - TEA-21." He explained that TEA-21 provides substantial increases in federal funding for highways and transit, and TEA-21 puts Utah in a position to obtain substantial federal discretionary funds because of the I-15 reconstruction project and because of priority language in the bill for Olympic preparations.

    Ms. Janet Jensen, Chief-of-Staff for Representative Merrill Cook, briefed the committee on TEA-21. She reported on the $640 million that has been earmarked for transit projects related to Olympic preparations. She noted that these funds have the potential of being 100 percent federal funding rather than requiring the normal 20 percent local match.

    Ms. Jensen gave credit to Bud Shuster, Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Washington, D.C., along with Representative Cook, Representative Cannon, Representative Hansen, Senator Hatch, and Senator Bennett for getting the bill passed.

    Senator Mayne stressed the importance of the hard work that Representative Cook did for Utah on the passage of TEA-21.

     MOTION: Sen. Holmgren moved that staff draft a letter of thanks to Representative Cook, the other members of Utah's congressional delegation, and Chairman Shuster for their diligent work in acquiring federal transportation funding for the state. The motion passed unanimously.

    Mr. Randy G. Fitts, Mayor, South Salt Lake City, spoke about transportation issues in the Salt Lake Valley. He said new funding sources are needed to maintain current roads, build new roads, and cope with existing transportation problems.

    Mr. Randy Horiuchi, Salt Lake County Commissioner, reported that elected officials within the county are requesting increased funding for local roads and transit. One funding source may be a ½ cent local option sales tax increase to be apportioned into transit improvements, local road improvements, and a small portion dedicated to sidewalk safety and traffic safety signage.

    Mr. Dannie R. McConkie, Chairman, Wasatch Front Regional Council, reported on the long- range plan of the Wasatch Front Regional Council. He said an MPO has three major responsibilities:
    
    1)    to have a cooperative transportation planning program in place involving local officials in the Regional Council, UDOT, and UTA;

    2)    to maintain a long-range transportation plan for its area; and

    3)    to prioritize the available funding, and assemble a transportation-improvement program for its area.

    Mr. McConkie indicated that growth and funding are of vital concern. He also suggested a need for a ¼ cent sales tax increase to fund transit needs.

    Mr. Mick Crandall, Program Director, Wasatch Front Regional Council, reviewed current plans to help solve some of the transit problems facing the area. He recommended expansion of the bus system, examination of ways to assist with long-distance commuting, and the study of possible additions to the light rail system in Salt Lake County.

    Sen. Mansell stated that state government should not be expected to carry the burden of city and county problems that are a result of poor planning and zoning at the city and county levels.

    Mr. James E. Clark, President of the Board, Utah Transit Authority (UTA), briefed the committee on UTA and stated that UTA will need more operating funds to accomplish its future goals for a better-operating bus system.

    Mr. John M. Inglish, General Manager, UTA, distributed a booklet titled "Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century - TEA-21." He discussed the handout which included local funding requirements under the Act; the projects, including light rail construction, authorized under TEA-21 with 100 percent federal funding; expansion projects with 80 percent authorized federal funding; UTA operations and capital; and project descriptions. Mr. Inglish also discussed the need for a ¼ cent tax increase for operational costs if any new expansions are pursued.

    Mr. Drew Chamberlain and Mr. Michael Packer, Coalition for Accountable Government, spoke in opposition to light rail or any sales tax used to support a light rail system. Mr. Chamberlain spoke in support of other methods of transit, such as car pool lanes or express bus lanes. He encouraged splitting the ¼ cent sales tax question on the ballot to reflect a portion for public transit and a portion for light rail.

    Mr. Robert Comstock, Secretary of Utah State Independent Party, and Mr. John Webb, United Electric Supply, also spoke in opposition to light rail construction.

    Mr. Samuel S. Taylor, UTA Board of Directors, spoke in opposition of a tax increase.

    Mr. Jim Dexter, Libertarian Party of Utah, said government interference has destroyed transportation in Utah. He said there is no need to put more government money into transportation of this sort. He urged the opening of transportation modes to the private enterprise system.

3.     Driver Training and Licensing - Mr. Dee Larsen, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, briefed the committee on driver training and licensing issues.

    Mr. Christensen distributed a handout titled "Driver License Expiration." The committee and staff discussed the driver instructors' requirements, the length of term for driver license, and public school vs. private school driver education courses having different requirements for teenage drivers.

    Rep. Bowman recommended that staff provide information on the permit options available for parents to help teach their children driving skills. Sen. Steele offered to approach the Education Interim Committee with these options.

    Mr. Perry Madson, Utah Driver and Traffic Education Association, was concerned about the theory portion of the driver education program for new drivers. He said anyone up to 18 years of age

should have the same number of hours of instruction and driving time, regardless of if the person is enrolled in private or public schools. Currently, public school driver education requires 30 hours of classroom work, while private schools require only 18 hours.

    Ms. Rolayne Fairclough, AAA and Traffic Safety Task Force member, offered to provide resources from other states regarding their driver licensing standards.

    Ms. Linda Plouzek, PTA and Traffic Safety Task Force member, was concerned that the six hours of driving instruction sometimes includes time as a passenger in the vehicle and does not allow adequate time behind the wheel for new drivers to learn to drive appropriately.

    Mr. Craig Allred, Highway Safety Officer and Traffic Safety Task Force member, was concerned about new drivers getting a driver license with their experience being in areas where there are no traffic lights, two-lane roads, or interstates.

    Mr. Drew Chamberlain questioned the lack of seat belts in public transit vehicles.

4.    Other Committee Business - Mr. Tom Warne reported on the issue of windshield damage while traveling on highways. He explained that windshield damage caused by Wasatch Constructors should be directed to Wasatch Constructors, but UDOT may be contacted at 965-4000 to help assist motorists to identify the owner of the trucks. He said the number on the truck involved and the location that the damage occurred should be reported, if possible.

5.    Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at 12:02 p.m.

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