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Show 'Preservation strategy ' adopted is stuck in congress. The President's Presi-dent's plan calls for states to shoulder an increased share of highway and construction maintenance costs. If adopted, the state share of costs for building primary highways other than interstates would rise from the existing rate of 17 percent to 28 percent. States would be responsible for paying 40 percent of construction costs of secondary roads. President Bush's plan calls for a two-tiered system of highways. The largest would be a 150,000-mile National Highway System, which would include all the existing interstate in-terstate and an additional 107,000 miles of primary connecting roads. The second tier would be state and local roads of regional rather than national significance. Experts see little chance for approval ap-proval of the plan without significant signifi-cant modifications. Utah transportation transporta-tion officials have voiced concern that the proposed change in the ratio of federal highway spending would place a severe strain on Utah citizens. SALT LAKE CITY With construction of the interstate highway system virtually completed com-pleted in 1990, Utah and other states across the country are more interested in preserving rather than building roads. A study conducted by the nonprofit non-profit Utah Foundation concluded state highway authorities are adop- ting a "preservation strategy" in me interest of preventing the deterioration dete-rioration of existing roads rather than planning extensive new con- ' struct ion. 1 There will still be some construction. construc-tion. The Utah Department of ' Transportation has prepared a five-' five-' year construction program beginning beginn-ing this fiscal year, and has hopes to ' complete the program in its entire-' entire-' ty. But financial problems en- countered at both the state and fed- - eral level could make that impossi-1 impossi-1 ble. : In 1990, the Utah State Legislature appropriated nearly $20 million from the general fund for ' the construction of the West Valley I Highway. Expectations that the - legislature would appropriate a I similar amount in 1991 were never I fulfilled, with only $5.5 million funded. Nationally, President Bush's proposed five-year $ 1 05 billion ; plan to improve the nation's highways and mass transit systems 41 f ' j jr f T , i " ' 1 lit L L, 1 ' 1 Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? Owner Merrilee McCall presents first customers Vikki Major and Mary Brady with a free lunch in celebration of the opening of the new Robtntino's. |
