Light-rail mass transit has few friends, and some determined enemies, on Capitol Hill.
Fortunately for Salt Lake City and the Utah Transit Authority, many lawmakers do like the idea of having the federal government pump $480 million into the state's economy.Given a choice between accepting millions in federal tax dollars that might otherwise go to another state, or proving to their constituents just how much they disdain light rail, legislators decided to take the money Wednesday.
But not without a lot of "heartburn," as Senate Majority Leader Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, put it.
In the final hours of the final day of the 1999 session, the Utah Legislature agreed the state would provide $50 million over a 10-year period beginning in 2002 to pay for the operation and maintenance of a west-east light rail extension.
But, that's only if the $5 million annual operating subsidy can't be generated by UTA, local governments in Salt Lake County, and through new sales and property tax revenue produced by the infusion of federal construction money.
And the commitment of state funds as a last resort expires in a year and does not bind future Legislatures.
But that pledge, included now in a state law, is all UTA officials said they needed to show the Federal Transit Administration they have local funds with which to operate the line.
"This is a big, big step in moving forward and getting this project under way," Mike Allegra, UTA's director of transit development, said after the House voted 52-18 to approve the commitment.
By mid-spring, UTA hopes to secure a full-funding grant agreement with the feds, making the west-east project eligible for money from Congress.
Sometime this summer, it plans to begin building the 10.9-mile rail line from Salt Lake International Airport to the University of Utah, completing it before the 2002 Winter Games. The project qualifies for 100 percent federal funding only if it is built before the Olympics.
"I think we still have hurdles remaining," Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini said in a telephone interview after the vote. "But we had to resolve this issue."
It almost didn't happen the way UTA -- and its late-arriving supporter, Gov. Mike Leavitt -- wanted it to.
The House at first approved an amendment by Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, that said the Legislature does not intend UTA to finance light-rail operating costs through a tax increase.
That amendment was removed, through a conference-committee agreement, after UTA and the governr's office said it would give the feds a conflicting message and could sink the deal.
The House did agree to publish Harper's no-tax language in the House journal. That means it will be on the record as something House members support, but not part of a state law. UTA officials are hoping that won't cause a problem in Washington.
Harper said next year he may introduce a separate bill preventing UTA from increasing taxes to operate light rail.
"I'll leave my options open and see what happens with Salt Lake City and the federal government," as the west-east line takes shape, he said.
Longtime light-rail critic Sen. Al Mansell, R-Sandy, took the Senate lead in the conference committee and found himself in the awkward position of arguing -- convincingly -- in favor of a bill that would benefit light rail.
"It was hard for me to support a direction so many people are opposed to," he said. "But we had to keep the money."
Hillyard, who saw SB3 through the Senate, gave credit to Leavitt. UTA funding was pronounced dead by House leadership before Leavitt stepped in Monday and pushed for passage. Ted Stewart, the governor's chief of staff, met with the conference committee and helped move the bill along.