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House approves $1.6M supplemental to acquire Heber Creeper railroad; sponsor says state will contract operations
Summary
The Utah House passed Senate Bill 259 authorizing $1.6 million in supplemental funds to acquire terminal grounds and rolling stock of the Heber Creeper railroad; sponsor said the state will seek private or nonprofit operators while accounting for a prior federal EDA grant.
Representative Brown introduced Senate Bill 259 on the House floor as a request for $1,600,000 in supplemental appropriations to acquire the Hubert Cooper (Heber Creeper) railroad assets in Wasatch County. "Senate Bill 259 appropriates $1,600,000 of supplemental money for the acquisition of the Hubert Cooper Railroad in Wasatch County," Brown said, framing the purchase as necessary to preserve a historical and recreational railroad experience.
Brown told colleagues the state already owns roughly 97% of the railroad’s property and that the remaining pieces are primarily the terminal grounds and the rolling stock. He said the legislation would allow the state to acquire those assets for a negotiated figure not to exceed about $1.2 million for the land and rolling stock portion and that federal EDA grant money previously used for restoration must be accounted for in final settlement. "Our intention is not to run it per se, but to contract it out with a private provider," Brown said.
Members pressed the sponsor on operational and safety questions. Representative Anderson and others asked how the statute would handle a transition through the 1990 summer operating season and who would bear immediate repair costs. Brown said the Department of Transportation would execute a transition agreement with the current owner to permit operation through the 1990 season, and he confirmed roughly $360,000 in the appropriation is earmarked to repair track ties and address safety compliance on the Provo Canyon segment.
Supporters emphasized tourism and preservation. Representative Holt and others argued the railroad is a unique tourism asset whose benefits extend beyond ticket revenue through sales and transient room taxes. "Passage of this important piece of legislation does several things that benefit the state," Holt said, urging passage.
The House opened and closed the vote on Senate Bill 259; the clerk reported the bill had received 54 yes votes and 13 no votes and that it passed the House and would be transmitted to the Senate for signature.
