Subcommittee approves UDOT funding increases, closes bicycle account and finalizes one‑time project priorities

The Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee on Jan. 30 approved a series of funding adjustments for the Utah Department of Transportation, removed appropriations from a closed bicycle support account, adopted capital-project transparency recommendations and finalized a prioritized list of one‑time state funding requests after multiple procedural votes and roll calls.

The committee voted unanimously to approve increases to UDOT’s highway planning and construction line items, including expendable receipts, revenue transfers and federal fund increases for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The panel also approved internal reallocations across UDOT line items and authorized staff to implement a brief on capital project and fund management posted with the subcommittee materials for the 01/30/2025 meeting.

Why it matters: the actions reallocate and confirm availability of federal and non‑general‑fund money that will support highway, airport and other transportation projects across the state. Several items required clarifying discussion about permissibility of uses from restricted accounts and the process for allocating one‑time funds among competing project requests.

During discussion, Senator Kwan asked whether matching funds tied to federal programs would revert to their originating restricted accounts if federal matches did not materialize. "I know that many of these programs probably have some matching grants. And if for some reason these federal programs are cut, then would the matching grants that are not being used be go back to wherever they were taken from?" Kwan asked. A committee presenter replied that funds would likely be taken back or reallocated if federal matches failed to materialize.

A specific point of debate concerned a proposed use of the aeronautics restricted account to support electric aircraft charging infrastructure. Carlos Perceira of the Utah Department of Transportation told the committee, "Yes. We believe it's an authorized use to be able to use that from the aeronautics restricted account. Therefore, it was part of the governor's budget proposal." Senators pressed for intent language to ensure the account would be open for applications from all airports statewide rather than limited to one or two facilities; the committee approved an amendment stating the intent that funds be available by application to airports across the state.

The committee also approved removing appropriations tied to the Share the Road Bicycle Support restricted account, noting the account had been closed in July 2024 and the motion would strip appropriations from the eliminated account.

The session included an extended series of procedural and substitute motions to reorder and finalize the committee’s prioritized list of one‑time state funding requests. Committee chairs presented a ranked list of one‑time requests and the panel debated several proposed changes, including moving the Aquatic Animal Health Research Center and a Provo Airport project in the priority order. After multiple substitute motions, roll calls and an audio‑visible exchange about process, the committee approved the prioritized one‑time funding list as amended.

Votes at a glance

- Approve UDOT expendable receipts, revenue transfers and federal fund increases (Section 4A): Motion placed by committee leadership; outcome: approved unanimously (voice vote).

- Approve special motions increasing UDOT revenue transfers and expendable receipts (Section 4, subgroup action described in packet): Motion placed by committee leadership; outcome: approved unanimously (voice vote).

- Remove appropriations from Share the Road Bicycle Support restricted account (account closed July 2024): Mover stated in meeting; outcome: approved unanimously (voice vote).

- Approve transfers between UDOT line items (Section 4C): Motion placed by committee leadership; outcome: approved unanimously (voice vote).

- Clarify authorized use of aeronautics restricted account to support electric aircraft charging and add intent that funds be available by application to all airports: Carlos Perceira (Utah Department of Transportation) confirmed authorized use; committee amendment requiring statewide application availability passed unanimously (voice vote).

- Implement capital project and fund management recommendations (brief posted with meeting materials): Mover stated by committee leadership; outcome: approved unanimously (voice vote).

- Approve non‑general‑fund and income tax fund agency requests (Section 5): Mover stated by committee leadership; outcome: approved unanimously (voice vote).

- Approve one‑time state funding requests internally funded (Section 6): Mover stated by committee leadership; outcome: approved unanimously (voice vote).

- Prioritized list of one‑time funding requests (Section 7): The committee considered multiple substitute motions and roll calls to reorder items, including separate roll calls on proposed placements for item #12 (Aquatic Animal Health Research Center) and item #5 (Provo Airport request). After amendments and roll calls, the committee approved the prioritized list as amended. Several roll calls during this sequence recorded individual yes/no votes; the final motion to approve the list passed with at least one recorded no vote (Senator Stratton) during earlier related votes but the final amended list was approved (roll‑call sequence recorded in meeting transcript).

- Approve ongoing state funding requests, internally funded (Section 8): Motion placed by committee leadership; outcome: approved unanimously (voice vote).

Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion only: Committee members raised procedural and prioritization questions, asked for clarifications about appropriate uses of restricted accounts (notably aeronautics and the closed bicycle account), and debated how to reorder the prioritized one‑time list.

- Direction/assignment: The committee instructed staff to implement the capital project and fund management recommendations posted with the meeting materials and clarified intent language that aeronautics restricted account funds be available statewide by application.

- Formal actions: The committee adopted the listed funding adjustments, closed‑account appropriation removals, reallocations, and approved the prioritized one‑time and ongoing funding lists as recorded above.

Ending

Committee chairs thanked staff and members; the subcommittee adjourned after a final voice vote.