A proposal to prohibit the Utah Transit Authority from using the word Utah in its title has been defeated in committee.
Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City, wanted to delete the state name because, he contends, it leads people to think the UTA is a state agency, which it is not.Bigelow said he and other legislators are tired of fielding constituents' gripes about UTA issues when the state and Legislature have no control over the agency's day-to-day operations.
Rep. Brian Allen, R-Cottonwood Heights, led the successful effort Wednesday to strike the name change from Bigelow's bill, which also allows the UTA to transport school students and to lease its buses for use outside the district boundary.
The name change was estimated to carry a $600,000 price tag because of the need to alter signs on buses, benches and advertising.