Toll-roads bill earns preliminary approval
Under SB80, the Utah Department of Transportation would be allowed to contract with private companies to build toll roads. The state could potentially net billions under such a deal, where private groups pay for the right to build, manage and maintain toll roads.
"We simply have to have a way of funding these facilities," said Killpack, referring to an estimated $16.5 billion deficit for road projects in the state. "These facilities aren't going to build themselves."
But senators from western Salt Lake County, faced with the potential of a toll road in their area, said other ways to fund road building should be researched. If passed, SB80 could put the Mountain View Corridor on the fast-track for becoming a toll road.
Mountain View is a proposed highway that will run from the northwestern part of Salt Lake County to Lehi. UDOT is currently studying whether it would be feasible to toll Mountain View.
"We're all in the state together, and if we're going to do toll roads, the question is, do we want a foreign or private investor" building them? asked Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley. "The private sector is good for a lot, but I don't think regulating toll roads in one of those things."
All but one of the five senators who voted against the measure, including Mayne and Waddoups, were from western Salt Lake County. Twenty-two senators voted in support of the bill.
"You don't want a toll road up here? Bring them into rural Utah," said Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, a supporter. "I think the time has come to face our many highway needs."
SB80 is anticipated to receive final approval in the Senate sometime this week.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
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