As the legislative session concludes tonight, the details of the long-awaited transportation infrastructure investment have been released by the Executive Appropriations Committee and are included in the final appropriations bill (HB3), or what's otherwise known as the "Bill of Bills". EAC included the $1 billion dollar infrastructure package in theproposed additional funding items released by EAC late yesterday, and further spells out the uses in HB3 which was made public this afternoon.
Invest in infrastructure: this approach makes another historic investment in Utah transportation, helping to address Uath’s nation-leading growth.
Support multi-modal transportation choices: this approach continues the success from last year on state funding being invested in roads, transit, and active transportation.
Utilize the professional planning and prioritization process: this investment relies on the professional planning and prioritization processes that are used to develop Utah’s Unified Transportation Plan.
Be fiscally prudent - balance current infrastructure investment needs with long-term fiscal stability: this investment uses one-time revenue available to Utah to make generational investments in infrastructure, without creating new ongoing expenses or incurring any additional debt.
The $1 billion includes the following:
$721.2 million to accelerate state road projects
This funding would accelerate the construction of projects that have already been programmed. UDOT and the State Transportation Commission will identify opportunities for such acceleration over the next several years. This will then allow for programming of additional statewide projects for later years that are on the current Transportation Investment Fund (TIF) ranked list.
This provides a stable, robust program statewide in the range of $1B per year between now and 2030.
$150 million for transit projects
$75 million for strategic doubletracking of FrontRunner, including up to $5 million for an environmental analysis to extend FrontRunner to Payson, including station area planning. This funding would go to the Transit Transportation Investment Fund (TTIF) and is in addition to the $232 million which was already appropriated earlier this session to replace the authorized bonds for the FrontRunner project. When added to $68M appropriated in 2021, this brings the total state investment in FrontRunner of the past two years to $375M, reflecting the unique importance of FrontRunner as the region's transit "spine".
$75 million for Point of the Mountain transit. This funding would go to the TTIF and includes intent language for UDOT to perform the alternative analysis to consider both rail and bus rapid transit options for this significant project.
These investments relate to the passage of HB322, Transit Capital Development Modifications, which recognizes the need for greater financial involvement from the State in transit projects through a collaborative approach with UTA.
$40 million for active transportation ($30M of which is from the $1B)
$30 million for paved nonmotorized bike and pedestrian paths in the Bill of Bills, with a required 20 percent local match.
$10 million for paved nonmotorized bike and pedestrian paths included in HB409, with a required 20 percent local match.
These funds will be used for regionally important active transportation projects statewide, and builds on the $35M state investment from last year.
This investment in active transportation was supported and encouraged by hundreds of public, private, and community stakeholders around Utah.
$98.8M for additional projects
$3.8 million for the completion of the UTA Depot District
$5M to conduct an environmental analysis for an interchange at US-6 and Spanish Fork Center Street
$10M for the 9000S extension at Mountain View Corridor
$5M to conduct an environmental analysis and preliminary engineering for the I-84 Mountain Green interchange
$35M to the Mountainland Association of Governments to reimburse local funds previously expended on state highway projects
$40M to match a federal rail grant
Additionally, late yesterday HB462, Housing Affordability Amendments (Waldrip) passed with a favorable recommendation. The substitute for HB462 included the language for required station area planning, and adds to what was formerly known as SB34+ which includes various changes to moderate income housing plan requirements and other housing changes. You can find the joint WFRC and ULCT summary of the bill HERE.
Also worth noting is the passage of SB140, Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone Amendments (Harper), from the House of Representatives. You can find our up-to-date summary of SB140 HERE.
Though most of our work is done here, I'll be busy finalizing our end of session summary to share with you all, so keep an eye out for that very soon!
