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MINUTES OF THE
TRANSPORTATION INTERIM COMMITTEE
Thursday, November 12, 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. David H. Steele
Sen. Nathan C. Tanner
Rep. Gerry A. Adair
Rep. Brian R. Allen
Rep. Ron Bigelow
Rep. DeMar "Bud" Bowman
Rep. Don E. Bush
Rep. Brad King
Rep. Peter C. Knudson
Rep. Richard M. Siddoway
Rep. David Ure
Rep. David L. Zolman, Sr.
Members Absent:
Sen. Eddie "Ed" P. Mayne
Members Excused:
Rep. Trisha S. Beck
Rep. Ralph Becker
Rep. Gene Davis
Rep. Joseph G. Murray
Rep. Lowell A. Nelson
Staff Present:
Mr. Benjamin N. Christensen,
Research Analyst
Mr. Dee S Larsen,
Associate General Counsel
Ms. 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 9:13 a.m.
MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to approve the minutes of the October 21, 1998 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Mansell, Rep. Bigelow, and Rep. Ure absent for the
vote.
2. Criteria for Highways on the State Highway System - Mr. Christensen discussed the draft legislation titled "Statewide Highway Criteria," that was mailed to committee members
prior to the meeting. He also distributed a handout titled "How should criteria for state highways
be used?" and opened a discussion regarding the issue.
Mr. David Spatafore, Utah League of Cities and Towns, expressed concerns about
transferring highways as a result of the bill. He said that if the legislation is intended to transfer
all nonconforming highways, then two new criteria must be added _ adequate funding and the
local government's capacity to handle the road if it is transferred. He also stated that funding
should not be left up to UDOT and the Transportation Commission, without local governments
taking part in the funding recommendations.
Mr. Thomas Warne, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), said he felt confidence
in the Transportation Commission's ability to make good decisions about transfers and funding if
the assignment is given to them.
MOTION: Rep. King moved to insert language in the draft legislation titled "Statewide Highway Criteria," as follows:
Page 2, line 13: delete "and" and insert "(b) a deletion is agreed upon by all highway authorities involved in the transfer; and"
Page 2, line 14: delete "(b)" and insert "(c)"
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Warne said the department concurs with the language in the draft legislation about
what should constitute a state highway. He indicated that the best solution may be to adopt the
language in the draft and encourage the commission and the communities to work together using
the suggested criteria on roads that are mutually acceptable to the parties, then revisit the issues
next year.
Mr. Clinton Topham, UDOT, explained that the draft legislation is based around
functional classification and is basically the same as the rule already adopted by the commission.
Rep. Tuttle complimented Mr. Warne and his staff at UDOT for their efforts and good
work on an intersection in Magna.
Mr. Topham said that UDOT initiated a new intersection design in Magna, unique from
any other in the country.
Sen. Tanner expressed concern over the lack of representation from the Transportation
Commission and recommended that a representative from the commission be invited to attend
the meeting on November 18.
MOTION: Rep. Bush moved to approve, as a committee bill, draft legislation titled "Statewide Highway Criteria," as amended. The motion passed, with Rep. Adair, Rep. Bigelow,
Rep. Bowman, Rep. King, and Rep. Ure voting in opposition to the motion.
MOTION: Rep. Bush moved to assign UDOT and the Department of Transportation Commission to study criteria issues as outlined in the handout titled "How should criteria for
state highways be used," and make recommendations to the Legislature for final approval. The
motion failed, with Sen. Mansell, Rep. Bush, Rep. King, Rep. Siddoway, and Rep. Zolman
voting in favor of the motion.
MOTION: Sen. Tanner moved that a study of issues, with the exception of the funding issue, listed in the handout titled "How should criteria for state highways be used," be assigned to
UDOT and the Department of Transportation Commission. The motion passed, with Sen.
Mansell, Rep. Allen, Rep. Bigelow, and Rep. Ure voting in opposition to the motion.
MOTION: Sen. Holmgren moved to add a section to the draft legislation that would require any road transfers to be accompanied by a funding proposal, which could include an
equipment transfer, before it would take place. The motion failed, with Sen. Holmgren, Rep.
Adair, and Rep. King voting in favor of the motion.
MOTION: Rep. Adair moved to reconsider the previous motion by Sen. Tanner. The motion passed unanimously.
Sen. Tanner withdrew his motion.
3. Other Committee Business -
4. Adjourn -
MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Tanner absent for the vote.
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
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