Toll-road bill nears OK, but opposition building
The rub is simple, says South Jordan resident Clay Christensen.
"I don't think it's fair to have to pay at the pump and, because of where we live, have to pay again," he said. "I don't buy the argument that 'It's great, we can do this early,' when the Legislature has all this extra money to play with."
Christensen is one of several residents of western Salt Lake County who are speaking out against SB80, a measure that would allow the state to enter into a "public-private partnership" to build toll roads. Under such a deal, a private company could pay the state for the right to build and maintain roads and collect tolls from those who use them. The state would maintain ownership of the roads.
State officials maintain the bill is a "tool" that could help override a $16.5 billion deficit for transportation projects.
At present, the Utah Department of Transportation has no plans to build a toll road under a public-private partnership. The agency is, however, studying whether to toll the Mountain View Corridor, a freeway proposed for western Salt Lake and Utah counties.
"We haven't made any decisions for tolling or not tolling or doing public-private partnerships," Easton said. "But we have an obligation to taxpayers to study any means we have for addressing the transportation needs we have in Utah."
Said Killpack: "Look very hard and try to find the Mountain View Corridor within the text of that bill and you'll be looking a long time. This legislation should be looked at based on merit and in terms of policy. Should the state seek outside dollars for potential toll roads? It isn't whether we should have toll roads, it's about if we toll, should the state bear the risk or should a private group?"
Groups such as the Utah Trucking Association say there are other ways to pay for roads — including an increase of the state gas tax.
Last week, the Trucking Association commissioned a poll of Wasatch Front residents. The survey started and ended with the same question. Questions in the middle were designed to "educate" people about public-private partnerships and the effects of toll roads, said Dave Owen, a consultant hired by the Trucking Association.
In the beginning, 56 percent of residents said they would generally oppose paying tolls on a new highway. At the end of the survey, 68 percent of residents said they would oppose toll roads.
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