OCR Text |
Show PO wesvseeryy sya SOO Sunday, February 19, 2006 DAILY “HERALD Traffic Continued from Al don’t want to hear.” Mountainland Association of Governments is Utah County’s regional planning organization. His frustrationis simple, he said.Interstate 15,already failing, can never be expanded enoughto hold futuretraffic, andevenif Utah County voters one day approvea tax increase for commuterrail, the rail service could onlyhold 10 percent of commuters. A new freeway west of Utah Lakeis the only solution — and planning andright-of-way 7 acquisition must begin immediately, hesaid. Howmuch would the proposed freeway cost? “Howmuchwill it cost not to doit?” he asked. Whenpressed to say how he proposesthe state pay for such a road, there was a long pause. “It is nuclear deposits,” he said, Storing nuclear materials is “absolutely, totally safe, and becauseof the paranoia of the good folks of the East, they will payalmost any moneytogetit outof their back yard,”he said. If Utah would “swallow little bit of pride and providea little bit of nuclear storage”the state could earn up to three-quarters of abillion dollars a year. If nuclear storageis a no-go, the state could also earn $200 million a year in new tax money by requiring Internet vendors to collect tax payments onall Internetsales to residents, he said. Or Utahns might simply “Can you imagine 130,000 people coming downLehi Main Street or Redwood Road? Both are overloaded now.” UDOT makes headwayon I-15 expansion Katie Ashton DAILY HERALD 6 Howard Johnson Lehi mayor head of schedule” and “under budget” are two reasons the Utah Depart- ment of Transportation can boast about the $42 million project that’s expanding Interstate 15 between the Alpine and University Parkwayexits. Despite the rising costs of construction materials, UDOT’s project planning provided a cushion of additional funds to soften the blow of increased costs, said Geoff Dupaix, a UDOT spokesman. Whenthe project was budgeted, a contingency fund was setasidein the event costs or additional projects haveto accept a tax increase “and get what weare demanding because of the way welive,” or perhaps,he said — though he noted it would not be fair to those using I-15 — the new freewaycould be a toll road. When speaking with the Daily Herald, Johnsoninitially said the 140-mile freeway he proposes should begin where Interstate 84 dead-ends into I-15 at Tremonton,cross the Great Salt Lake on a new causeway “creating a lake,” go north ofthe Salt Lake International Airport, head south and cross1-80, go underneath CampWilliams in a tunnel, travel west of Utah Lake and eventually rejoin I-15 south of Nephi. Helater said he recognizes environmental concerns would likely never permit a causeway across the Great Salt Lake and that only the portion of the freeway ftom I-80 southward might be feasible. 1-15is already a “parking lot” and work is now beginning on a $111 million state project which wouldhelptraffic get through Lehi to 1-15 faster, as well as widen Redwood Road. The problemis that state projections he said. UDOT has met with Johnson and is also always happy to show 130,000 peoplewill live in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springsin 30 years,he said. “Can you imagine 130,000 people coming down Lehi Main Street or Redwood Road?” hesaid. “Both are overloaded now.” Evenif flow through Lehi improved, “this is all being dumped onI-15 on the north end of Utah County whereI-15 is already a parkinglot,” he said. The statealso has a billion-dollar plan to widen I-15 through Utah County and “whenit gets done wewill find it didn’t really solve the problem,”he said. arose, he said. The fund is about 10 percent of the project’s cost. “Weput contingency into our projects for the very reason that costs do increase,” he said, “It’s kindoflike having a eenfunding reserve.” UDOT has used abouthalf of the contingency reserve, Dupaix said, with rising costs and additional projects. Construction costs range from the price of concrete andfuel and additional projects generated at various stages, such as adding crash barriers at the bases of twobridges, he said. Another additional project UDOT is k intois installing a fiber optic line from the Alpine Interchange to Univer- hear any suggestions from the public. Dupaix Johnsonaid thatstate studies show that about threefourths ofthe traffic from the Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs commutes north to Salt Lake County for work. The proposed freewayis the only wayto get that traffic + now and in the future — to Salt paeevee perpetually i as F sity Parkwayfor the traffic cameras,he said. The side project was built into the contin- by June and should stay under ae10ppacer reserve, Duret's always orewith projects,” he said, but plans weredesigned in such a way that construction is moving 0 lion shopingconte $300 sl center to be built in Lehi, called the Terrace at Traverse Mountain, is projected to attract 2to3 Wadsworth Brothers, the million visitors a year, suppleprime project contractors, menting the 4 to 5 million visidecided to focus on the bridge tors that Cabela'sis projected workduring the winter to bring in — not to mention months rather than on paving, the 8,000 homes plannedfor Dupaix said, because paving the area and the expansion of could have delayed the project once low temperatures set in. Late ded I-15 will tkeeats underthe traffic, hesaid. The proposed new freeway State and regionalplantheonly solution,”said Geoff need notbe built all at once, but nersare “already 30 years of UDOT.“It is an imbehindschedule,”he said. “I've portant piece to the entire trans- planning must begin immediately and the state must buy the watched Eagle Mountain, and portation puzzle, but we agree landfor the road beforethereis I knewthat given water they that more needs to be done.” more developmentin the area, would grow the way they have Manysolutions are being done, and they have grown he said. studied,he saic Johnsonsaid he hopes resiwithout even a good cowtrail “We agreeSwit Mayor Johnfor transportation, and I use dents will speak out in support son that we face a tremendous that word specifically.” challengeandit is going to take ofhis idea — or any idea to solve Utah County’s traffic Dan Nelson,director of rea collective effort from UDOT, gionaltransportation for Moun- MAG,and eachcity in the coun- problems. tainland,said Mountainland “More people should be ty as well as the public in order speakingout,” he said. “Someofficials have met with Johnson to meet those transportation timesou:visionis like the blindat least twice “and we have a needs today andin the future.” dialoguewith him,”but declined ers on horse...People can look There arenoplans to build at me andtell me I'm all wet, to commenton Johnson's coma freeway west of Utah Lake mentsto the Daily Herald. and I maybe, but show mea so“but that does not mean thatit “WerecognizethatI-15 is not could not happenin the future,” lution. That solution is not 1-15.” quickly. “Wewantto ‘catch’ the bad guys and makesure they're not ‘released.’ We do not want themto‘net’a lot of money. T isis a ‘real’ problem. We wantto makesureothersarenot ‘lured’into this.” Sen. Patrice Arent, D-Salt Lake City Humor divided alongparty or ideological lines, in one area they are unanimous in their distaste, even enmity: The Media. Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake They'vehad plenty of opporCity. A newer memberofthe tunities to tee off on the Fourth Legislature, he was on the reEstate this year, too, because ceiving end of somehazinglast ofbills seeking to reform how week whenthe Senate wouldn't gifts from lobbyists are relet him changehis vote after he ported. Manylegislators have mistakenlyvoted yes ona bill. said thereis no problem with “Wecanall get worked up on lobbyist reporting — except certain issues that wefeelreally for the innuendo generated by passionate about anddivided reporters. on, and on the nextbill we're Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, compared reporters cracking jokes and making toa “swarmofkiller bees” on puns,”hesaid. “I think that's actually good,It helps keep the Thursdayduring a discussion collegiality together.” of bills that would lowerthe reLet the jokes begin. portinglimit to either $5or $10. On Friday, he received a can of Raid from a Salt Lake City Goodol’ partisanship Continued from Al reporter, along with this letter: Lawmakersareoften at their best when taking pokes at their colleagues across the aisle. When debatinga bill that would makea state board nonpartisan,for example,Bell, R-Fruit Heights, noted that the GOPcan't counton beingas in controlof state governmentas theyare now. “Right nowit mayseemlike, to both sides, that that would takea tectonic plate shift. I hope that's true,” he said, setting off the following exchange: Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price: “Sen. Bell, I've grownold waiting for that windtoshift.” Sen. Darin Peterson, R-Nephi: “I gotta say, I bet he has waited a longtimefor the windtoshift, because he's an old codger.” That drew laughter and some catcalls. Valentine: “Careful about impugningone's integrity on the floor.” Peterson: “I wouldjust say he would refer to me as a redneck.” Valentine: “Wecanstipulate to the oldness. The codger part is the harder part.” Valentine, R-Orem,presides overthe Senateandis charged with keeping business moving right along. Jokes — evenif theyaren't funny — are a fundamentalpart of that process, hesaid. “L try to makecertain that we don’t take ourselvestoo seriously,”said Valentine. “I allow a little humorto comeinto the debate.I even doit from the stand myself. “The main purpose ... is to keep the body in a mood that can debateissues on their merits. We can dojust a little bit of humor to tryand keep things going.” Somethingthey all agree on Though lawmakersare often “Please accept this small gift for yourprotection the next time a swarmofreporters, which could include me, buzzes your way. Just so you know, this gift cost less than $5, so I don't believe I need to include it on anyofficial disclosure forms.” Thegift was so well received, Stephenson said he was inspired: “Next session,” he told his colleagues,“based onthis, | intendto sponsorlegislation designating ‘Teporters as the state insect.” Wounded by words Where lawmakerscan get in the most trouble, however,is when they reach too far for a clever turn of phrase. In announcinga daily media briefing, for instance, an e-mail from Valentine's office said that “Every day is Valentine's Day.” A staffer actually came up with the line, so the Senate President can avoid a flogging for that one. But whenit comes to wordplay to make you wince, Arent’s anti-phishing fusillade That's why Valentine recognized Mayne's request to speak Friday on someenergylegislation by saying, “We're going to see a demonstration of wind energy now.” as aye. Which,hopefully, protects them fromindiscriminate spraying. All talk Loquacity is another way to introducelevity to the proceedings, andin the Senate an acknowledged masterof the form is Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley City. Mayne's best showing so far was a 10-minute-plus soliloquy in oppositiontolegislation by Sen. SheldonKillpack, R-Syracuse, that would allow the state to enter partnerships with privateentities to buildtoll roads. Potential partners,he said, include “China — they're covering most of our debt that we're not paying ona national level. Maybe they can come and own a few toll roads in Utah. Maybe Enron. Now there's one I would really, really trust as far as investing and getting back their money fromus ... the Wal-Mart toll roads. Now that’s a good one,'too. Maybe Wal-Mart can buildit.” In addition to international finance, corporate fraud and Looking for a hair salon? Look nofurther, contact MOUNTAIN COSMETOLOGY for your next salon appointment 763-0324 MATC MARIO RUIZ/Daily Herald* Victoria Duckworth, left as Dorothy, and Alison Foster as Twiggy hold a paintingas it is sold at the auction during An Evening of Stars at the SCERA on Saturday. Stars Continued from Al reigns supreme. She summed upherlegislation thusly: “We wantto‘catch’ the bad guys and makesurethey're not ‘released.’ We do not want them to ‘net’ a lot of money. This is a ‘reel’ problem. We want to makesureothersarenot ‘lured’ into this. We hope this bill is not ‘gutted’ by the Senate. We wouldliketo‘fillet’ the opposition andare now ‘trolling’ for votes.” Take a deep breath, gentle reader. There's more. The other senatorsjoinedin. Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo: “Are we supposed to swallow this hook,line and sinker?” McCoy: “Weshouldn't just let this be anotherfish story and weshouldn't let this be the one that got away.” Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City: “I'‘d like to ‘cast’ my vote Mountainland Applied Technology College MATC the world’slargest retailer, Maynealsolinked thebill to the minimum wagedebate, tax breaks for truckers, the gasoline tax,election-yearpolitics, the projected budget surplus andthe price of tea in — wait. Healready said China. Killpack, meanwhile, made exaggerated “grasping at straws” motions, Mayne kept talking. The Star Awards,initsfirst year, honorcontributors to the arts. At the black-tie event, the SCERAalso received thefirst offive installments toward a $1 million donation from XanGo, a Lehi-basedjuice supplement producer, toward renovation of the newly renamed XanGo Grand Theatre. The check for $200,000, was handed overas the kick-off for the Star Awards. “This place represents defining momentsin people'slives,” said Joe Morton of XanGo speaking of SCERA. “This will allow those defining moments to continueon.” Morethan $8,000 was raised to benefit the SCERA during Ttspite of this abuse, senators passed the bill. Unanimous- Attorney A few dayslater thelist of fish puns cameupat the end of the day as MayneandArent were wrappingup their work. “That,” said Mayne, “was really ~ ‘— bad.I know,”said Arent. Continued from Al ly. “Bleah,” responded Mayne, as he mimed sticking his finger downhis throat. Indeed. The gong's on order. D Alan Choate will never be a comedian — buthe canbelt out a meankaraokeversion of “Jack and Diane.” He can be reachedat 344-2556 or alanchoate@heraldextra.com. McConnell, R-Ky., also has called the White House on Tolman's behalf. Utah Sen. Bob Bennett has not weighed in, Said a spokeswoman. “I have the highest respect for Kyle and Brett. Both are experienced Utah lawyers with impressive regdeme Hatchsaid.“But for t! i ular position, I, believe Brett has the right experience to serve as Utah's lead federal prosecutor.” Sampson may have the inside track, having worked in the White House personnel an auction at Saturday's event. Whentwobiddersraised theprice of a donated limited edition print of a Liz Lemon Swindle painting called “Super Dad”to $2,500, the auctioneer convinced the donorof the print to donate a secondso the total donation to the SCERA would be $5,000. “Thank you so much,” said Robertson, speaking to audience membersafter the auction. “You can rest assured that 100 percent of the money contributed tonight will supportthe arts programs at the SCERA.” The crowd was entertained bylocal singers,a storyteller, stand-up comic and a performance by two membersof the Utah Regional Ballet. » Caleb Warnock can be reached at 443-3263 or cwarnoc! ‘tra.com. 2006 Star Award — Jerry | Elison Volunteerism — Gareth | Seastrand || Advocacy of the Arts counselor to Attorney General John Ashcroft. In those roles he helped write briefs for a numberof prominent cases, and helped craft a broad array of administration policies. Heis one of Gonzales’closest advisers. Sampson was among a small groupofattorneys seated behind Gonzales when the attorney general beste before the Senate ee earlier us month on the Bush administration's warrantless wiretap — Hale Center Theater vidual) — Dick and JoAnn Losee Dance — Rick Robinson | Music — Ray Smith | Visual Arts — Max Weaver | Theatre — Jayne Luke, Lifetime Achievement (in s Starting at $1,375 INSTALLED! Heating & Air Conditioning OUNG LIVI ¥, wv 7 NG VISITOR CENTER OPEN DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY «Distillery & Greenhouse Tours Picnic Area : Wagon Rides » Paddle Boats * Medieval Village + Climbing Rock Wall * Special Events through the Summer Turn to the Experts (Call for dates & times) 3700 N hh ae | | While Sampson lacks Tolman’s experience as a prosecutor, David Jordan, a former U.S, Attorney for Utah, said it is not essential to the job. “Kyle's a smart lawyer andhe'll be a quick study ... The one quality that is most in demand in the job is good judgment and you can develop good judgmentby getting experience in many, different ways,” Jordan sai Jordan said he doesn't know Tolman, and was not endorsing either candidate. The White House declined Tolman joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2000 in the violent crimes division. SSeae Fun is where the Farm is! Install an Energy Efficient Furnace Today! | | Friends of the Arts (bust|| mess) — The Daily Herald || Friends of the Arts (indi- | memoriam) — Syd Riggs office and the counsel's office, wheredecisions on nominations are made. Sampson has been chief of staff to Gonzales sincelast year, and before that was | Star Awards Mona Utah 800-371-0819 |