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July 22, 2010

Senate Committee Approves Bennett Requests for Utah Transportation and Economic Development Projects

Bennett secures over $196 million for Utah in Senate bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved over $196 million he requested to help meet Utah’s transportation needs and fund economic development projects.

“I am proud of the support I’ve been able to give these important projects and look forward to seeing Light Rail extended to Draper,” said Bennett, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Light Rail and Commuter Rail are key to the success of Utah’s transportation system and with more Utahns commuting each day, these projects are critical in helping to meet their needs.”

The committee’s approval of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill includes over $203 million for Utah transportation projects and $3 million for economic development initiatives requested by Bennett.

Of the transportation dollars secured by Bennett, $2.1 million will go toward extending the North/South TRAX line to Draper. Funding for this project will lengthen the current line from the Sandy Civic Center to Draper City, improving the mobility of thousands of residents in southern Salt Lake.

Additionally, Bennett secured $8 million in the bill to help Utah’s five transit districts improve their bus services. With ridership increasing, many Utah communities are calling for additional routes and increased bus frequency. These funds will allow transit districts to replace aging buses, update facilities and provide more reliable service for Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Cache Valley Transit District, Park City Transit, Logan Transit District and St. George Sun Transit.

An additional $180 million will reimburse UTA for the Mid-Jordan Light Rail and Weber to Salt Lake City Commuter Rail projects. The Mid-Jordan Light Rail project connects the North/South TRAX line in the central part of the Salt Lake Valley to the western side of the valley with stops in the fastest growing cities in Salt Lake County. The 44-mile long Weber to Salt Lake City Commuter Rail transports commuters to regional job centers and provides critical congestion and air-quality relief in a geographically constricted corridor. The funding, which was included in the president’s budget request, will accelerate construction on these projects.

Below are additional projects Bennett received funding for in the Fiscal Year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill:

Provo City Municipal Airport Development-- $2,000,000

Provo City will use funding to construct a 400,000 sq. ft. aircraft parking and staging ramp at the Provo Municipal Airport. The parking and staging ramp will improve safety and increase capacity at the Provo Municipal Airport, which serves as an alternate, emergency airport to the Salt Lake International Airport. In the event of a natural disaster or emergency, the Provo Municipal Airport must have the ability to deal with a large influx of aircrafts should services at Salt Lake International be disrupted. The project will also facilitate an expansion of commercial services at the airport and provide an economic benefit to the area.

Mountain View Corridor Transit-- $1,000,000

Funding will allow UTA to conduct alternative analysis on the Mountain View Corridor, a comprehensive multi-modal project with 33 miles of highway and 24 miles of transit improvements.

St. George, I-15 Bicycle/Pedestrian Passageway-- $500,000

Funding will go toward construction of a passageway for pedestrians and bikers to cross I-15 at St. George Boulevard. St. George is bisected by I-15, with limited places to cross the interstate and the new passageway will greatly expand accessibility for pedestrians and bikers.

Delta City Learning Center Facility-- $500,000

Delta City, in partnership with the Great Basin Museum, Topaz Japanese American World War II Internment Camp Museum, and Daughters of Utah Pioneers, will use the funding for a learning center facility. The facility will house the Chamber of Commerce, tourism office, the Topaz Japanese American World War II Internment Camp Museum, and the Great Basin National Heritage Route. The new facility will be centrally located on Delta’s Main Street, and can host community events and programs. The center will showcase the history, geography and cultural heritage of the region and serve as a magnet for tourists, historians and visiting school children.

Logan City Northwest Park Project-- $200,000

Logan City will use funding to complete a six-year public park conservation project. This low-income neighborhood park is in dire need of a conservation-efficient water management system. The project entails converting culinary water to secondary water for irrigation purposes. The park includes playgrounds, ball fields for youth sports, walking paths, trees, and landscaping, and a storm water detention basin to serve the commercial areas near Northwest Logan.

Clearfield City Downtown Development Project -- $100,000

Clearfield City will use funding to redevelop its blighted downtown area, creating jobs and providing improved commercial access to residents. This redevelopment project will improve the city’s commercial tax base, lower its residential tax burden, create new jobs and improve the commercial shopping, office and dining opportunities for residents in the downtown area.

Old Town Ivins Street Improvement Project-- $100,000

Ivins City will use the funds to improve roads and install curbs, gutters, and sidewalks in the heart of the city. These upgrades are necessary to improve safety in an area with a high concentration of families with young children, many of whom are required to walk to school. The current oil chip-sealed roads are narrow, approximately 20-feet wide with very little room for pedestrians and vehicles to share the roads. Additionally, the roads are rough with poor drainage, requiring city maintenance to clean up sediment and debris after every major or minor storm.

Syracuse Legacy Park Handicap Renovations-- $100,000

Syracuse City will use these funds to increase access for children with disabilities to a public park in a low-income neighborhood. The project will expand the playground and create an area where children of all skills and abilities can play together. Playground features will include wheelchair-accessible equipment, swings with seating options to meet varying abilities, sensory areas, rubberized ground coverings, and a variety of other options to ensure access for all children.

Salt Lake County Transitional Housing Project-- $750,000

Salt Lake County will use these funds to renovate or build multi-family housing and build new mixed-use housing facilities. These properties will serve those in need of affordable housing, specifically the large refugee population. There is currently a one-year waiting list of 100 families who desperately need housing in Salt Lake County. Federal assistance will help ease the burden on local and state programs that lack the level of funding to meet the growing demand for housing in Salt Lake County.

Tooele City Commercial Park-- $750,000

Tooele will use these funds to develop infrastructure for the Tooele Commercial Park, which is made up of 210 acres of property to be used for high tech/business development for companies looking to locate in Tooele City. The project will include a 50 acre extension campus for Utah State University. The city will partner with the university to develop jobs and a business incubator using the university’s programs. Funding for this project will construct the major road, water, and sewer lines necessary to open the first 100 acre phase of development.

Westminster College, Garfield School Renovation and Revitalization-- $500,000

Westminster College will use funding to renovate one of three sections of the Garfield School in Salt Lake City. Westminster is dedicated to renovating the school while retaining the historic elements, landscaping the property and updating the mechanical systems and interior, including asbestos removal. Not only does this facility provide a crucial expansion for Westminster’s landlocked campus; it also provides a renewed focus on utilizing and maintaining the school.

The bill will now be placed on the Senate calendar where it will be considered at a later date.

 

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