Planning for the
Future: A safe and efficient transportation system is foundational for Utah’s economic vitality, quality of life and growth.
The Chamber supports the continued planning, development and construction of the transportation projects
identified as part of the 2015 Alliance Initiative.
Balanced Transportation
investment: We support a balanced investment approach, that includes both highway and transit investment, to
meet our transportation needs.
2009 Public Policy Priorities:
Maintain Current
Funding: Utah must maintain established funding levels and bonding capacity in order to meet current and long-term
transportation needs.
Identify Future
Funding: Utah must identify and secure additional funding sources dedicated to investment in transportation infrastructure,
including an increase of user fees.
Maximize Federal
Funding: State government should work collaboratively with other partners to identify projects eligible for federal funding.
Enhance
Transit: Utah should support transit enhancements, including the rebuilding of the North Temple viaduct. The
Chamber encourages
exploration of innovative public transportation options.
Recent Accomplishments:
Established Transportation as Funding
Priority: In 2004, the Salt Lake Chamber led a business community effort to ensure that transportation
funding was a top priority for Utah lawmakers. The Chamber pushed for a comprehensive transit/
highway “shared” solution to the state’s mobility problems. That same year,
the Utah Legislature created a Transportation Planning Task Force to develop funding recommendations.
The Task Force spent two years developing a statewide Transportation Policy to include funding for both highways
and transit. One of its recommendations was to provide a revenue stream sufficient to provide an additional $2 billion
for highways over the next ten years.
Advanced Earmark of automobile Sales Tax for
Highways: In 2005 the Chamber led efforts to increase highway funding by earmarking a
portion of the tax on sales of automobiles, auto parts and related automobile materials.
Helped Create the Transportation investment
Fund: The Chamber supported the creation of the Transportation Investment Fund. This fund is
used for all statewide “new capacity” road projects and their maintenance.
Formed 2015 Transportation
alliance: The Salt Lake Chamber helped form the 2015 Alliance, a business consortium created to advocate
increased funding for both highways and transit. Under the Alliance, local and state
elected officials, planning organizations, transportation planners and other stakeholders partnered in an
unprecedented fashion to identify critical highway and transit needs and develop viable
funding solutions. In 2006, at the urging of the Chamber and the Alliance, the Wasatch
Front Regional council and the Mountainland Association of Governments identified a first phase transportation need
of $6.2 billion to build critical projects by 2015, $4.1 billion in highway projects and $2.1 billion in transit projects.
Championed New Sales Tax Revenue for Transit and Roads
in Salt Lake and Utah Counties: The Chamber led ballot initiatives in Salt
Lake and Utah counties to fund TRAX light rail lines, highway projects, FrontRunner commuter
rail and corridor preservation. Both initiatives passed with a two-thirds majority and as a result the region will be
constructing 71 miles of rail in seven years.
Secured Sales Tax Funding for
Highways: The Chamber helped secure an increased earmark of auto-related sales
tax. Currently, 8.3 percent of the state’s sales tax goes directly to highway funding.
Helped increase Bonding for
Transportation: In 2008 the Legislature authorized additional bonding capacity to begin
work on the $2 billion-plus Utah County I-15 project
Transportation
