Rep. Kay Christofferson requests $20 million for corridor preservation; says time-change bill passed House

Representative Kay Christofferson, chair of the Utah House Transportation Committee, said she requested an appropriation to move $20 million from the Transportation Infrastructure Fund into the Corridor Preservation Fund to help preserve land for future roads and reduce later buyouts of homes and businesses.

Christofferson said she recently met with representatives of the Navajo Nation seeking support for a road near Navajo Mountain and described corridor preservation as a way to “get a head start on some of these transportation projects.” She said the appropriation request is part of the ongoing state budget process and will proceed to the Executive Appropriations Committee for final decisions.

“I am going to put $20,000,000 of the Transportation Infrastructure Fund over into the Corridor Preservation Fund,” Christofferson said. “I did a request for appropriation on that.” She added that the broader appropriations process is wrapping up and that assignments of tax revenues to agencies will be finalized this week before moving to the executive appropriations committee.

Christofferson also described legislation the Legislature considered this year to change how the state observes time. She said the House passed a bill to move the state to year-round standard time unless surrounding states and Congress approve going to year-round daylight saving time. Christofferson said she voted against the measure, citing constituent feedback favoring more evening daylight in summer.

“A lot of people sent me notes to vote no so that we just had more daylight in the evenings in summer, and so that’s the way I voted,” she said.

Separately, Christofferson invited input on elections policy, saying she is seeking suggestions on election reforms and encouraging constituents to submit concerns or proposals for possible legislation this year.

No final legislative vote or appropriation decision on the $20 million request was reported during these remarks; Christofferson described the request as pending and subject to the state’s appropriations process.

Christofferson closed by noting she appreciated constituent input and encouraged residents with ideas on elections to contact her office.