Utah Transportation Commission
April 26, 2002
Salt Lake City, Utah

The regular meeting of the Utah Transportation Commission, held at the UDOT Rampton Complex, 4501 South 2700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, was called to order at 9:03 a.m. by Commission Chairman Glen E. Brown. He welcomed those in attendance. Commissioner Larkin was excused from the meeting.

Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Clyde moved to approve the minutes of the March 15, 2002, Commission meeting held in St. George, Utah, with the following corrections: On page two, the first name of Mayor McArthur of St. George is Daniel, not David. Also, the discussion on page three regarding the MP 10 project where it was stated that there would not be any ramp closures, should include Commissioner Clyde’s reply of “never say never.” The motion was seconded by Commissioner Warnick, who said the motion should also include a correction on page four where the mayor of Cedar City’s name should read Sherratt not Sheriff. The motion was approved.

Public Comments
Commissioner Dan McConkie from Davis County informed the Transportation Commission that in the Wasatch Front Regional Council’s (WFRC) meeting yesterday, an agreement they have been working on for several years was ratified, which allows them to put transportation and transit issues between Utah County and Salt Lake County on the same page. The agreement will now go to Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) for their ratification and signature. There are also places in the agreement for signatures from UTA and UDOT. In talking with Senator Bennett’s office, they feel that this single voice in planning projects for highways and rail will make it a lot better, especially for those trying to bring money to Utah from inside the beltway. This is a step forward for a unified voice, and being able to make the county line between Utah County and Salt Lake County invisible when it comes to talking about transportation and transit. Director Njord said the genesis of this agreement is really to draw the two MPO’s together on planning issues. They had a difficult experience a few years ago trying to plan a corridor for the 5600 West freeway and where that road would ultimately connect in Utah County. It was difficult to achieve a consensus because of the “barrier” at the county line. Collaborating together like this will help get through those kinds of issues that cross county lines in the future.

Michael Packard addressed the Commission. He expressed his concerns about the amount of funding going toward transit. He said public hearings for highway projects will become a thing of the past because the money is going away from the people who pay for it. It’s going away from highways, and roughly half the money is going to transit. In the long range plan, $12 billion will be going to UTA. It doesn’t matter that it’s being used for operations or construction. It’s still gone. It’s $12 billion from the auto driving, tax paying public. Users of UTA will pay a little over $1 billion to $1.5 billion of their own costs. The 2000 financial report from UTA shows that only 11.2% of the money is coming from the users, and by factoring in the ECO Pass program, etc., it’s closer to 10%. Highways are going to lose out. It’s like trying to build a 1500 sq. ft. house on a 3 X 4 ft. foundation. Also, everyone notices empty busses riding around. UTA busses are expending 50% more fuel per passenger than they did in 1984. The per capita ridership in 2000 was knocked down to 12.7%, the lowest since 1975, and it will only climb to about 13% in the long range plan. Light rail is not the success it’s been pitched to be, and they’re more than 10% behind their baseline projections at this point.

Chairman Brown asked about the $12 billion mentioned. Where is the source of money for transit coming from? Mr. Packard said it’s the ½ cent sales tax. About 27% of the highway tax that goes to Washington is being diverted in the TEA-21 bill and coming back as CMAQ and other programs to UTA. Chairman Brown said there are those in this state that would like to take 50% of the gas tax and give it to transit. That gives him reason for concern. Commissioner Clyde said he’s a highway man and has been all his life. However, he no longer feels they can dedicate the resources that are necessary to expand the freeway transportation system to meet the growing needs. There has to be an alternate mode of transportation developed, and it has to be done by people accepting that fact and utilizing the system. Utah doesn’t have a system yet, they have a few branches, but he can see it expanding into a system.

Michael Clara said he’s a resident of the Poplar Grove Community, and is here today to speak about soundwalls along the south side I-80 between 1100 West and Redwood Road. Mr. Clara displayed a map and pointed out the area he is talking about. He said as an introduction to his issue, a pattern has developed in their community in regards to this and another issue affecting them. Right now, they are in the news a lot regarding the Union Pacific Railroad line that has been reactivated through the heart of their community. Mr. Clara held up a document called the Railroad Consolidation Plan, which has the UDOT and Salt Lake City logos on it. It’s the implementation report that was finalized December 30, 1996. Many of his neighbors were involved in various ways as part of the planning process. The document called for the removal of the 900 South tracks, and it also called for the removal of the tracks that allowed the Gateway Mall to be built. Again, they were part of the planning process, but their community seems to always get the short end of the stick. Now, for the issue at hand, in late 1999, the minutes of their Community Council meeting shows there were representatives from the I-15 team who came and showed where some soundwalls would grace their neighborhood along I-15 and I-80. It did not come to pass. He would like the Department to seriously consider the completion of that particular project from 1100 West to 1700 West.

Director Njord said he knows there were some issues with noisewalls along the I-80 corridor, and would like a chance to sit down and discuss the issue further. Mr. Clara said UDOT has conducted studies that show they meet UDOT’s criteria to have the soundwalls in place. Carlos Braceras, Deputy Director, said that the noisewalls were extended to the west along I-80 on the south side but then stopped. He explained that there are two soundwall programs. The Type One program is where capacity is added to a road and noise studies are done. And based on those studies, areas are identified as to where soundwalls are needed. His guess is that because capacity wasn’t added to I-80, that area didn’t qualify for a Type One noisewall, so the walls stopped at that location. Commissioner Clyde asked how the railroad issue interfaces with the noisewall issue. Mr. Clara responded that the reason he brought up the railroad issue is because they continually see a pattern where they give their time to participate in a public process and a decision is made, but then the plans that were agreed on aren’t implemented. It seems that every aspect of the plan is implemented except the ones in their community. Additional discussion followed regarding the difference between Type One and Type Two noisewalls. Mr. Braceras said he would like to find out exactly what was presented to the Community Council in terms of what the expectations were. Mr. Clara added that they were actually shown graphics of where the soundwalls were going to go. As the soundwalls were being built, they were being built in sections and there were several weeks that went by between each section. So, they waited and thought the next section would go up, but it never did. They kind of dropped the ball, too, and should have been here sooner.

Planning and Programming
Aeronautics
- Cedar City Airport Project
- Logan Airport Project
- Panguitch Airport Project
Dave Miles, Operations Engineer, said Aeronautics has requests for three projects. The first one is in Cedar City and is a new project. They want to use $1 million of their Entitlement money. There is no state money involved in this project. The money would go for architectural services for a new terminal building, a new rotating beacon, and emergency stairs for the crew and passengers.

The second project is in Logan, and would require an increase in state funding of a little over $4,000. It is for rehabilitation of Taxiway B lighting. The total cost of the project increases from $241,000 to $330,000, an increase of $98,000. Of that, the increase of $4,400 would come from the Aeronautics restricted fund, then the airport would pay the remainder of the increase.

The third project is at the Panguitch Airport, and is for a new project to take care of maintenance of the runway. The runway is about seven years old and has experienced some minor cracking. The cracks have opened up to the point where they are in excess of one and a half inches, and is endangering the whole runway. This is a temporary repair until they can get a project to do an overlay or a more thorough repair. The total cost of the project is $20,000. This is all state funds, so they are asking for $18,000 from the Aeronautics restricted fund, and $2,000 would be the sponsor’s match.

Commissioner Clyde moved to approve the applications from Cedar City, Logan/Cache, and Panguitch. It was seconded by Commissioner Bodily and approved.

Approval for use of Corridor Preservation Funds
- Blake and Nancy LaRoque - 5600 West
Lyle McMillan, Chief of Right of Way, said this first request is a residential property on the Western Transportation Corridor (WTC). The LaRoques are here today and have requested approval of the property for purchase under the hardship provisions of the Corridor Preservation Fund. Their home will be right in the middle of an interchange. They have attempted to sell their home but with no success because of the disclosure of the corridor. There are also some hardship issues. They are taking care of two relatives, an elderly aunt and a handicapped cousin. The Advisory Council has reviewed this request and are recommending approval for the purchase of this home. The estimated cost is about $120,000, subject to an appraisal. Blake LaRoque confirmed the difficulty they have had trying to sell the home. It’s been eight months, and the minute the disclosure of the WTC Study is made, the buyer runs. Real estate agents get mad, as well as the people who want to buy the home. They don’t know what to do at this point. Commissioner Bodily asked how many homes have been purchased in that area. Mr. McMillan said this is actually the first one. There are approximately 142 homes that will be impacted by the completion of the WTC, and about 140 of them are in the LaRoques neighborhood.

Commissioner Clyde asked Mr. McMillan how he rates the investment that is being made now in Right of Way at this point as compared to what will be invested later on. Mr. McMillan said the Department has developed a pretty good property management program in that when a residential home is purchased, they are actually able to turn around and lease it, and get some revenue back. However, this plan is so new they don’t have a very good understanding of the savings as compared to bare ground. With bare ground, development is eliminated, but there are costs associated with maintenance, rodent control, pests, etc. And the hope is that by buying bare ground now, the expense of maintaining it is still less than what it would cost to buy it if someone built something on it 20 years from now. This residential property is something the Department can turn around and lease. Commissioner Clyde asked that over the next little while, as properties are being acquired, he would like the Department to put together something that shows whether the Department is making a good investment or not. Mr. McMillan responded that they are already developing a new right of way system that will give monthly reports showing revenues and expenses that accrue to the fund. Chairman Brown asked whether UDOT manages the properties, or if they have a contract with someone to do that. Mr. McMillan said Bach Properties is handling the properties on US-89 in return for a percentage of the gross income and it has worked out very well.

Commissioner Warnick moved for approval of this acquisition as outlined by Mr. McMillan. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wells and approved.

Lehi City - Lehi East/West Corridor (2 Properties)
Mr. McMillan said the second request is actually for two properties that are adjacent to each other in Lehi. Lehi has been very good at trying to preserve these corridors through zoning, density bonuses, etc. MAG is asking for use of the Corridor Preservation Funds to preserve one of the three potential east/west corridors through the city. Since the advent of Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs, it has turned Lehi’s Main Street and other streets into major thoroughfares. So, they are trying to stay ahead of the curve, so to speak, and preserve some corridors so they can adequately prepare for their future transportation needs. These two properties represent the first time MAG has requested use of the Corridor Preservation Funds. The properties are about six acres and represent about $380,000 in total cost to the fund, subject to an appraisal. The Advisory Council has reviewed the requests and recommends approval.

Mr. Braceras explained that MAG conducted a corridor study in this area about 2 ½ years ago, and they’ve actually shown a need for all three corridors. The southern corridor is projected to tie into the Pleasant Grove interchange. Chairman Brown asked if the city would ultimately pay the fund back. Mr. McMillan said depending on how the project eventually turns out, the city will agree to maintain the property, but the state will own it. UDOT will enter into a contract, prior to the purchase, which will clearly set out what the expectations will be for the purchase and maintenance of the property.

Commissioner Wells made a motion to approve the purchase of the two parcels in Lehi City. It was seconded by Commissioner Clyde and approved.

There was additional discussion regarding the disclosure process, involvement of brokers when homes are being sold, and potential problems. Commissioner Wells noted that one of the things the Corridor Preservation Group talked about is that a lot of these people have hardship cases. And when they find out they are in a corridor, they can’t get any realtors to list their homes because it’s a waste of time if no one will buy the home.

Informational Items
WASHTO 2002 - San Antonio, TX
The WASHTO 2002 Conference was discussed.

Commissioner’s Clyde, Bodily and Warnick expressed their interest and availability in attending. Chairman Brown said he would think about it and make a final decision soon on who would attend.

Next Commission Meetings
Chairman Brown said he had a conflict with the May 17, 2002, Commission meeting. After a brief discussion, it was decided that the meeting would be changed to Thursday, May 16, 2002, starting at 2:00 p.m., at the UDOT Rampton Complex in the Large Conference Room. There was also discussion of the dates and potential locations for future meetings. The meeting dates were set, but the locations were to be determined by Director Njord. The following dates were scheduled:

• June 28, 2002 - Location TBD
  
• July 19, 2002 - Location TBD
  
• August 23, 2002 - Location TBD

The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.

The following Commissioners, staff members and others were in attendance:

Glen E. Brown, Chairman
Hal M. Clyde, Commissioner
Steven M. Bodily, Commissioner
Jan C. Wells, Commissioner
Bevan K. Wilson, Commissioner
Ken Warnick, Commissioner
LeAnn G. Abegglen, Commission Secretary
John R. Njord, Executive Director
Carlos M. Braceras, Deputy Director
Jim McMinimee, Project Development Director
David K. Miles, Engineer for Operations
Max J. Ditlevsen, Program Development Director
Linda Toy Hull, Director of Legislative and Government Affairs
Lyle McMillan, Chief, Right of Way
Bret Anderson, Program Development
Peter Tang, Environmental Division
Nile Easton, Community Relations
Randy Park, Region Two Director
David Gibbs, Division Administrator, FHWA
Joe Brown, GOPB
Commissioner Dan McConkie, Davis County
Kyle Comer, Versar/Lehi City
Wes Starkenburg, Washington Infrastructures
Ben Wuthrich, Wasatch Front Regional Council
Mark Gray, Standard Examiner
Blake LaRoque, West Valley City
Nancy LaRoque, West Valley City
J. Michael Clara, Poplar Grove Community
Michael Packard