Utah Senate advances broad transportation bill to set rules for highway transfers and tolling

Summary

The Senate advanced first substitute Senate Bill 25, a multi-part transportation measure creating a jurisdictional-transfer task force, new notification and prioritization rules for UDOT, and authority for tollways; sponsors and opponents sparred over funding for roads and local impacts before the measure was set for third reading.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on Feb. 14 advanced a sprawling transportation bill that would change how the state prioritizes new road capacity, notify UDOT and transit districts about local land-use plans, authorize new tollways and high-occupancy toll lanes, and create a task force to study transfers of state highways to local governments.

Sen. Walker, sponsor of first substitute Senate Bill 25 and chair of the transportation task force, said the legislation implements recommendations developed by a two‑year task force and lays out a five‑part framework: notification requirements for local land‑use planning, a highway selection/prioritization process, tollway authorization, amendments to state highway criteria, and a jurisdictional‑transfer task force. He said the bill requires the UDOT executive director to report strategic initiatives and that the transportation commission adopt a written prioritization process subject to public hearings and legislative review.

The bill directs the task…

Utah Senate advances broad transportation bill to set rules for highway transfers and tolling

Summary

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