Utah Lawmakers Advance New Infrastructure Funding Bill
Today, Utah legislators passed a measure that allocated $1.2 billion to upgrade roads, bridges and public transportation along the Wasatch front. This is a major step for Utah’s ageing transportation system.
This bill was approved by the House Transportation Committee with a vote of 12-3. It prioritizes road projects in Salt Lake County, Utah and Davis and Weber Counties where population growth is outpacing capacity. The funding, according to lawmakers, will be used to address bottlenecks along I-15, increase commuter rail accessibility, and fix rural highways that were damaged by winter storms.
The package, say supporters, will ease commutes of residents that spend more time in traffic. Critics warn, however, that the plan, without dedicated sources of revenue, could put a strain on the budget for the state in the future.
Now, the measure will be presented to the House as a whole for final approval. The legislative session is set to end next week. Construction on the first phase of the projects may begin in spring 2027 if the Governor signs the bill.
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Visit the Utah Department of Transportation website at udot.utah.gov. Also, check out the Utah State Legislature’s site at le.utah.gov and the local coverage on sltrib.com.