WASHINGTON — Congress approved a transportation spending bill Friday that contains $94 million for Utah projects, including $74.7 million to help host the 2002 Olympics.
The House voted 344-50 to approve the 2001 Transportation Authorization Bill and an hour later the Senate approved it 78-10. It now goes to President Clinton for his signature.
Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, the only Utah member who serves on an appropriations committee, praised Congress for the funds it included to help the Olympics.
"As we have learned from the recent Olympics in Sydney, transporting spectators to and from venues during the Games can be a challenge," Bennett said.
"These funds for bus acquisition, additional drivers and Olympic venue-loading facilities are important for easing concerns and helping to ensure successful spectator transportation," he said.
Utah projects related to the Olympics the bill funds include:
$60 million for Olympic bus facilities, loaned buses and drivers, venue loading facilities and Paralympic transportation service.
$10 million for Olympic park-and-ride lots.
$2 million for multimodal planning to coordinate transfers among different types of transportation.
$1.2 million for improved access to the Soldier Hollow venue for Nordic skiing events.
$1.5 million for continuing "intelligent transportation system" projects that use electronic signs to warn motorists of problems and possible detours.
Other Utah projects receiving funding include:
$2 million to help the Utah Transit Authority with construction of its University of Utah extension to the TRAX light-rail line. Bennett also reprogrammed $2.8 million for the project from earlier approved funding for a Salt Lake City Gateway intermodal project.
$10 million for the Salt Lake City International Airport, including $9 million for ongoing terminal improvements and $1 million to enhance security.
$3 million for approach lighting system improvement projects at Utah airports.
$300,000 for a permanent, remote communication facility to allow radio communication between the Salt Lake Valley and helicopters in the Park City-Heber area, which would help during the Olympics.
$1.5 million for airport improvement projects at Ogden, Logan, Provo, Tooele and Heber
$950,000 for a Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge access road.
Up to $2 million for ongoing research associated with reconstruction of I-15.
Bennett also amended existing law to allow $2 million to be used for the North Ogden Divide road to connect the Ogden Valley with North Ogden.
E-mail: lee@desnews.com