Committee OK's bill giving $$ for new Heber railroad depot

A Senate committee on Thursday gave its approval to a bill that would designate $260,000 for the construction of a depot for the Heber Valley Historic Railroad and $700,000 for a 5,000-square-foot day lodge at the Soldier Hollow cross-country skiing venue.Officials with the railroad and Soldier Hollow said the projects would assist with the staging of cross-country events during the 2002 Winter Games but are primarily designed to make Soldier Hollow and the railroad financially viable after the Olympics.

Howard Peterson, a member of the Soldier Hollow Legacy Committee, said the Salt Lake Organizing Committee is spending $12 million on infrastructure improvements at Soldier Hollow. He said it would be a shame to let that investment go to waste by not operating it as a world-class ski area beyond 2002.

SB154 is one of many appropriations bills seeking a slice of the relatively small $5 million pie the Legislature normally sets aside to fund pet projects.

16-year-old-driver bill hits roadblock in House debate

Looks like hard sledding in the Utah House for SB93, a bill that would require an adult chaperon to ride with new 16-year-old drivers, when the passengers are also teenagers.

Sen. Robert Montgomery's bill says that for six months after getting a driver's license, a 16-year-old can drive with other passengers in the vehicle if one of the passengers is at least 21 and holds a valid license.

The aim is to stop an inexperienced driver from getting behind the wheel with "a carload of peers driving together and sometimes getting distracted" and causing an accident, said Rep. Don Bush, R-Clearfield.

But a group of rural, conservative lawmakers pounded SB93 before debate was postponed Wednesday.

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"Let's just kill this bill," said a clearly frustrated Rep. Bill Wright, R-Elberta. "I don't know why we can't understand (the real-life needs) of families and working people."

Wright said his daughters drive kids to school 24 miles away, and his teenagers must drive together in the family farming business.

Rep. Tammy Rowan, R-Orem added: "I have daughters who need to get to school. They don't have a car, but they'd like to. No, they ride with friends. What about dates? Do you expect a big brother to go along? Let's let parents decide."

The bill was held for possible amendments.

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