Salt Lake County voters may have derailed federal funding for the proposed light-rail commuter-train system when they refused to raise local taxes for it in November, a key House committee chairman warned Monday.
Rep. Bob Carr, D-Mich., chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, said other regions are raising taxes to pay larger local shares of mass-transit projects. Because Salt Lake County refused, it may now be at the back of the line for federal help."It's not hard in America to find people who are willing to pay more for these projects," Carr said. "That gets points on this subcommittee."
Local share at least 20%
Federal law requires local governments to pay at least 20 percent of the cost of mass-transit projects - but many offer to pay 50 percent or more to help win fierce competition for scarce federal money.
Had the proposed quarter-cent sales-tax increase passed last fall, the Utah Transit Authority would have paid 50 percent of a $300 million package for light-rail and bus improvements.
When the vote failed, UTA scaled its package back to a "no frills" $180 million light-rail project, with no bus improvements, that would require the maximum-allowed 80-20 split with the federal government. The UTA wants $6 million in federal funds next year to finish the final design.
More support for tax in future?
UTA General Manager John Pingree said once that first 15-mile phase is built and running, "We think we can build support for an additional quarter-cent tax to build other phases" and provide a higher local match for them.
But Carr complained, "The idea that `people will come to it once they see what it is' is the camel's nose that has burned this committee in the past."
Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini said other cities, such as Portland, Ore., struggled for support until their systems were built. They then proved to be popular, and she hoped the same would happen in Utah.
Light rail hurts bus systems
Carr also complained that in many regions "bus systems have been cannibalized to feed the black hole of light-rail systems" by diverting money and attention from them - and said critics of light rail in Utah who worried it will happen there too "may be right."
When Corradini said polls showed Utah voters simply did not want a tax increase but do favor transit improvements, Carr said, "I don't doubt that . . . People usually want more services as long as someone else is paying for them."
Might not reduce pollution much
Carr also questioned UTA claims that the light-rail project would help significantly reduce air pollution. Carr cited an environmental impact statement predicting only a 1 percent cut in emissions from it.
Pingree said that would be just a first step, however, and that light rail would encourage more use of mass transit and further expansion of light rail that would reduce emissions more.
Rep. Frank R. Wolf, ranking Republican on the committee, asked Pingree and Corradini if another vote may be scheduled soon to give a second try to raising local taxes. They said no such plans now exist.
Utah delegation isn't giving up
Rep. Karen Shepherd, D-Utah, said despite Carr's harsh words, the Utah delegation isn't giving up hope for the $6 million in funding for next year. She said the committee may look for projects that are ready for quick action as part of President Clinton's push to stimulate the economy with new jobs.
Shepherd also said Carr's job is to not be encouraging "because there's tough competition for money" - so she isn't sure how to read their chances yet.
Other UTA requests
The UTA also made a much less controversial request for $6.84 million for three projects.
That includes $4.24 million for a new facility to maintain specialty buses used for the disabled.
It also includes $1.6 million to build two park-and-ride facilities on I-15 at 9000 and 10000 South. Shepherd said they would be used now for transfers to express buses on I-15 and eventually as parking for the light-rail system.
The other request is $1 million for a center on 3200 West at about 3500 South where West Valley commuters would switch from local buses to express buses for travel to downtown Salt Lake City.