Issue Position: Transportation and Infrastructure

Issue Position

As chairman of the powerful Transportation Committee, I have two primary goals: (1) Develop a sustainable long-term plan to assure a statewide infrastructure, which meets our commercial, recreational, and safety needs and (2) Assure that the needs of the Westside growth are fairly and properly met.

I will advocate building roads and infrastructure to meet our growing needs. I will not support building "bridges to nowhere," merely to stimulate the economy.

A recent report by Ball State University indicates that Utah has room to improve in manufacturing development and manufacturing logistics. As my Transportation Committee develops its long-range plan, we will give this deficiency careful attention.

I will make certain that your voice is heard on Utah's Capitol Hill to assure fair allocation of funds for Westside projects. Current Westside traffic is appalling and with further development on the west bench, it will only get worse. Past emphasis has been on north-south conduits. A forward-looking policy must focus on east-west traffic congestion with an economical mix of public transportation and solutions such as flex lanes, continuous-flow intersections and overpasses at Bangerter Highway. I will resist establishing toll roads which impose costs disproportionately on the Westside.

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