| Show e b Hie Salt Lake Trfbnne Sunday August 4 1057 Utah Steps on" the Gas—And Road Building Ahead Dramatic Interstate Tie Pours Funds In Project Highway building long a big inXJtah and throughput tlto nation in pjwnwik ol "be coming dramatically bigger terms of dollars availUtah State Highway to the ably the acceleration Cothmission generated by the 1956 Federal Highway Act is already well r way and will continue for 13 to 15 years without further legislation business 1 un-e- Jakes Just Wait primary and secondary state systems i j ij Rather It Is superimposed upon the regular federal aid primary secondary and urban programs The interstate system program will in fact permit increased expenditures on the other programs Fpr by taking 633 or more miles in Utah off the regular primary system to be financed from interstate allocations more money will be made available for the remaining part of the federaUaid sys' If you hear that the Utah State Road Commission has de cided to program a section of interstate the in which system highway you are particularly interested don’t assume the project abandoned if the contractor doesn’t show up the next week the next month or even the next year ’ FOt1 between the decision to build and actual start of construction there must be a lot of planning negotiation and de sign work has-bee- BY UTILIZING highway work of which at least miles and probably about e i j WOODS state Prior to the inaugura Fine to (jon of the new program Utah 633 875 Interchange to be first section of standard Interstate highway system to be built In Utah high- - Interchange was designed by Utah Highway design division and drawing by Department's Herbert M Fehmel a senior design engineer 57-mil- e Lake-Dav- is 0 j - t $675 Million For Roads Who’ll Pay? Road Plan Sunerfine-Tlia- t’s 3 10-fo- On a basis of the admittedly conservative estimates of Gerald Matthews chief of the plan- division of the Utah State Highway Department the Utah Road Commission will have some $675578000 available for construction and maintenance during the 15 year period 1957 through 1971 This in terms of the state's assessed valuation and income 1 a “lot of money” and Immediately prompts the question: Where is it all coming from? The answer is simple Itis "coming out of the pockets of the people who use the highways— whether It is federal aid or state matching funds Of the estimated amount available to Utah during the 15- Railroad underpass Cudahy Lane underpass 11th West Street) overpass ma- traffic Interchange at 800 West and 6500 South (Davis County) overpass at 1500 South (Bountiful) interchange at 500 South (Bountiful) partial interchange at 400 North (Bountiful) partial interchange at 400 North (Bountiful) and Page's Lane overpass Other Interstate system sections for which tentative dates have been set for advertising for bids and amounts allocated are: are undertaken $1800000 other interstate system tentatively an(j proj-jo- r programmed acquired This Is simple for some projects but exceedingly complex and expensive for others WHEN THE project Is recommended for programming the commission staff begins making investigations preliminary which includes a location field survey Investigation of materials sources and traffic studies All this information tpen comes into the design department — chief of which Is 0 Donald Miles The design staff works up what Is known as a PS&E ftmtunts allocated: Salt Lake north south free- way from 10th North and 8th West to 6th South and 7th West 2 5 y report (preliminary survey and estimate) Next comes the complex and detailed task of pre- - ' paring the designs for the highway intersections interchanges or other structures and of work- n Tooele County 3 5 miles ty line 59 mites $3363000 million dollars (for preliminary engineering and right of way ac andFrom Junctionto of 24th South 4th West Parley's Canquisition) Feb 1 1958 From Anderson Ranch to yon (Salt Lake County) 52 North Pintura $4614000 for preliminary (Washington engineering and South limits of Layton (Davis County) to County line 82 miles $2279-00for preliminary engineerng miles right-of-wa- y 0 Ellis L Armstrong Holds new post In road department C of Taylor Burton Head -- reorganized commission Road Commission Programs 11 Projects in Utah for 1958 Eleven projects aggregating Crescent Corral and Wash and right-of-wamiles 532 of have been (Grand County) 13 six-lanBridges e highway The portion of the in teritate highway will extend 'programmed by the State Road miles $200000 Sept 1 from Ogden to Provo The reCommission for fiscal 1958 Modena bypass (Iron Counmainder of the aystem in this in the federal aid primary ty) 12 miles $45000 no date state will be four-lan- e with (exclusive of interstate) pro- Buckskin Wash to Paria outside shoulders paved Creek (Kane County) 17 miles paved 4 foot inside shoulders gram The projects the amounts al- $2250000 Sept 15 and 12 foot traffic lanes The Three miles north of Kanab to median or dividing striji will located (which in some Instances ML Carmel Junction (Kane to 32 feet 60 ary from are for preliminary work only) upward 4 miles $300000 feet in areas where rights y and tentative dates for advert- County) Sept 15 are a minor consideration ising for bids follow: -- the and direcLynndyl 4 Millard County) to US 89 In Logan from 7th to Millard-Juab tional sectionswill beon split County line 27 miles $150000 miles 12th East-0- 8 A elevations $135000 Sept 1 March L Millard County line north to AT SOME FUTURE date if Helper to Castle Gate (Car- Jericho (Juab County) 73 and when traffic volume war- bon County) 23 miles$600000 miles $365000 Sept 1 rants part of the median strip March 1 Morgan toward Devils Slide can be used for an additional (Morgan County) 4 miles $700-00- 0 traffic lane in each direction Board Makeup Nov 1 considerations enter Many -—Utah's— IfitST the" priority" of programreorganized highway jzmiey- - janctiorrw US”40 to UJS 189 south of Heber (Wacommission interof sections of the ming provides for area satch County) 103 miles state system But one factor representation by requiring that which will be given considerable Sept L four members - be appointed Riverdale Junction to weight is the urgency of the Nye’a need for Immediate Improve- from geographical districts and Corner (Weber) llmlles $240-00- 0 ment In the various areas one from the state at large Aug 10 y FEDERAL AID PRIMARY SYSTEM 6 LANE FAI 4 LANE FAI PROPOSED 6 10-fo- of-wa- - - - 0 7 Matching Funds No Problem Now One major effect of the vastly federal participation expanded highway program la to increase the premium on state matching funds In brief as federal allocations increase the more a state would lose in highway construction funds by failure to raise sufficient funds f to match the federal allotments ’ and to carpy nn jMtrrfWanw -- mvwIC0 - The concern of Utah highway i officials and state legislators J in this field was reflected by a l one cent Increase In the motor fuel tax by the last State Legislature one-thir- d - six lane Which and two sections and four-lanihs state seeks to add to the system4 e And circumstances " Once the route is reasonably firm rights of way must be Dec miles $9200000 From 5th North and 6th West to Draper crossroads (Salt Lake County) 18 miles $2590000 for preliminary engineering and right of way From north of Lehi to south of Pleasant Grove (Utah Counmillion polty) 95 miles 1 lan for preliminary engineerBlue Summit to From Creek and right Rattlesnake Pass (Box Elder ing three 103 miles mil From one mile south of Ash County) lion dollars Oct 1 Creek In Washington County Low overhead on US 40 in to the Washington-IroCoun- year period $391117000 will be federal aid Of this sum wlll be allocated Jo the "interstate system and $141748-97to federal aid roads not on the interstate system THE AMOUNT to be raised directly by the state (the estimate being based upon net motor fuel tax income only) is esti- mated at $282461045 But almost all of the federal money and the state money will come from the same sources— highway user taxes The federal grants will come from the Highway Trust Fund which in turn will get its revenues from a 3 cent per gallon tax on motor fuels and excise taxes on trucks buses tires inner tubes and other automotive items On a basis of estimated motor fuel tax income from the state’s per gallon tax the federal government will collect-f- uel taxes in Ufatr of approximately $ 14 1230000 during the 15 year period or somewhat rrtore than of the amount the state will receive from the national Highway Trust Furid Obviously in some states the federal government will collect Hally more than Is returned in Map shows routes of new Interstate highway the form of federal aid system In Utah the sections which will be 53 miles County) WHILE THE State Road Com mission with approval of the US Bureau of Public Roads can make the final decisions the practice Is to 'seek agreement at all levels before projects involving major rout changes or by passing of both federal and state law require public hearings as a prelude to decisions in certain Davis-Webe- r 4 and its engineers have a general idea of the cost of a project when a” decision is reached to definitely program it But this Is only a start—and sometimes a false start at that Strong differenpey©! opinion as to location might arise among local governmental units and the people An outstanding example of this is the Salt Lake north south freeway which was a subject of controversy for almost a decade before money was available to undertake it" and which is still In controversy a year after funds were available for a start A Network of Highways for Modem Utah was contributing -- (in -- federal gasoline and highway use will be located in Utah Ifjge taxes) very close to the First sample of the superfine will be built to standards which! amount of federal aid returned interstate highway system to be transcend the experience of built in Utah will be a Under 1936 the art term the The planmotorists present day section from about one half ‘super’’ in the context of its ning department of the highmile north of the Salt — commission - estimates is way inadequate present meaning fedIn receive will that Utah County line to north to describe them They will by Bountiful aid less a eral little three than with superpresent comparison This project for which $7333-00highways expressways and toll times the amount of federal taxes has been allocated is tentacall for the highway originating coinage turnpikes of a new descriptive term or within the state tively scheduled to be adversharp upgrading of currently This shift in ratios naturally( tised for bids on Oct 1 used terms Here briefly is a description is more pleasing to Utah and To relieve any apprehension 'other western states than to of a cross section of the miilion-dolla- r per mile highway: of areas not on the interstate those where the ratios will shift to are that going they aystem 0ther direction Thf Jusjn STARTING FROM either be pushed Into a highway build tification for the change rests side there will be a lng depression it should be em primarily upon two considera- paved shoulder three 12 foot phasized that this phase of the tions (1) the vast' stretches of traffic lanes a program does not supplant the non taxable government lands 4 foot inside paved shoulder a regular federal aid program on in the west and (2) the fact that 32 foot median or dividing strip the expensive interstate system another 4 foot paved inside is designed as a national system shoulder three more 12 foot adequate for ail foreseeable de traffic lanes and a paved fense requirements and is to be outside- - shoulder— an over all built to standards which the in- width of 132 feet dividual states might feel are Structures on the 5 7 mile beyond their needs and far be- stretch listed from south to yond their financial capabilities north will include a Bamberger $249-36800- CROSS to the Script net- - informs sion good d d the n jtlon the department’s planning depaitment has built up over the past 20 years the commis I 40000-mil- futuristic 2 UTAH HIGHWAY revenues '(federal aid ahd state) increased from approximately $17500000 ' In fiscal 1955 to $23174000 In 1956 to $33476000 in 1957 tem Estimated funds available fori Another effect of the interfile future years covered by thegtate pr0gram wm be to greatly l!Uinci ease the ratio of federal program contemplated -f- ederal act rise to $39622000 funds to state funds particularfor 1958 and $42631000 for 1959 ly In western states with large dollars---plu- s 40 million A decline to areas of federally Owned lands ithen anticipated for two Nationally the money authorizations for the regular federal jears with ""upturn starting and rMn? t0 again in ald programs are on a basis of 50 per cent federal and 50 per peak of $56208000 in 1971 11 funds In Utah the THESE estimates prepared icen ratio is actually about dematching by the commission's planning - ® P°r ren federal to 25 4 per con considered are partpient ervative by some officials and cea stale by those who made the piojecINTERSTATE authoi izatlons tion are on a ratio of 9& per cent fed- For example the estimates as-- eral to 10 per cent state but in sums no increase in present Utah the ratio will be 94 4 per tax rates and they cent federal to 5 1 per cent state highway-use- r assume passage of state "off The Utah matching ratio for highway" fuel tax refund law both programs will be roughly In 1959 87'i per cent federal and 12 Tit most dramatic part ofPr cent state the program Is the piojectedi The over all erf ect of the new Interstate system which was program on the ratio of state Combination cloverleaf-diamonfirst conceived during World money to federal aid in Utah located at Woods Cross on War II (federal highway act of can be more easily comprehend-3944- ) In terms of federal aid In and for which modest ap-cto federal highway reve- - Now-Sli- ck inflation made were first' proprlations oi liiuea— Iginatlng within the 1954 THIS Time ON A BASIS of estimates of ’ federal 'allocation and state highway income it appears that Utah will be able to match fed the specifications and 5 SOME IDEA of what this Involves on a major and complex project can be suggested by the fact that a major engineerlngV firm which operates nationally and internationally estimated 9 that it could design the Salt Lake freeway and have a portion ready for bidding in about 13 months & New Body Guides Highway Affairs For the past four month Utah’s highway activities have been under new management The 1957 Legislature the department reorian-ize- replacing a fulltime three member commission with a policy making commission and an administrative director Commission members are C Taylor Burton Salt Lake City chairman ErnestJL Balrh Ogden Francis Feltch Vernal W J Smirl Kanab and Weston E Hamilton Salt Lake City The director of highways (a new position) Is Ellis L Armstrong and the chief engineer is R W five-memb- Griffin But in Future? government does not par- funds will have to be spent for have been running maintenance with a correspondfour million dollars each ing reduction in funds available ' for matching and projects After deducting these two DIVERSION of State highway Items from estimated state highway revenues ajcushtmf funds to purposes other than tax revenue is estimated at a of bctH’MMr-fafti- t highway construction and mainand five little less than $15000000 would be left for tenance increased allocations to cities and counties or reduction The overalljafttchtofTTopornon federal aid highways ’ttorndFITie state Is about 12H s of revenues through tax But there are a number of would similarly reduce per cent In theory But actually because of expense Items not factors which could substan- - matching apd state project participated in by the federal tially change this picture within funds To whatever extent these facgovernment the state must a lew years As highways are t tors do enter the picture ths provide somewhat more than built to higher standards percentage Assuming a'tenance costs are bound to in- cuitailment will in all probastate percentage of around 20 crease And thp improved high-p- bility fall upon the non federal cent Utah- - would need in Ways are likely to generate a aid program For both eco1958 between four and a half public demand for a higher nomics and politics will exert and five million dollars for level of maintenance Thus it heavy pressures td give federal matching purposes Mainte-- 1 can reasonably be expected that aid matching and maintenance lnci easing amount of state the high priority position nance costs in which the led-a- eral funds finance its mainte- eral nance program and have a substantial amount left for aid projects For example estimated federal aid available to Utah for fiscal 1958 is and net state motor fuel ticipate around year ' state-finance- d $24-6680- exem-tion- -- i I main-tha- er n - Ua ing up estimates ll |
