Transportation and Environmental Quality
State highways in Utah are constructed and maintained, for the most part, with highway user revenues. Principal revenue sources are motor fuel taxes, motor vehicle registration fees, and special transportation permit revenues. These funds are deposited in the State's Transportation Fund. Other sources of revenue to the Department of Transportation include federal grants from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and appropriations from the General Fund. Revenue estimates adopted by the Legislature for FY 1997 for the Transportation Fund total $263,500,000 and an additional $123,169,000 in federal funds.
The Legislature approved FY 1997 expenditures for the Department of Transportation of $546,460,800 (see Table 35). This includes $3,598,400 in compensation adjustments and $111,150,000 in new General Funds for highway projects. The detail of these appropriations by line item follows.
Support Services
The Support Services Division is comprised of the following programs: Administration, Data Processing, Human Resource Management, Procurement, Building and Grounds, Loss Management, Motor Carrier, Ports of Entry, Comptroller's Office, Internal Auditor, and Community Relations. The Legislature approved a FY 1997 budget of $22,612,300 for Support Services which is an increase of $1,159,500 from FY 1996. The appropriation included the following new items:
- Three FTEs motor carrier specialists that will be transferred from the Department of
Commerce to implement provisions of Senate Bill 42 -
"Motor Carrier Deregulation".
. Funding of $32,000 to implement provisions of House Bill 54 - "Transportation Commission Membership".
. One-time funding of $2,100,000 for computer aided design (CAD) migration from a mainframe application to a personal computer application was appropriated.
The Legislature approved a FY 1996 supplemental funding reduction of $38,800 from Support Services to Construction Management to transfer one FTE that will be assigned to the I-15 Corridor Project.
Engineering Services
The Engineering Services Division includes the following programs: Safety Operations, Traffic Safety, Transportation Planning, Preconstruction Administration, Environmental, Roadway Design, Structures, Materials Lab, Research, Engineering Services, and Right of Way. The FY 1997 budget approved for the Engineering Services Division is $21,124,900. The appropriation included $500,000 of funding to implement provisions of House Bill 53 - "Transportation Corridor Preservation". Continued funding for corridor preservation will be provided beginning on July 1, 1997 with implementation of provisions of House Bill 393 - "Sales Tax for Infrastructure" . This law directs the first $500,000 annually generated by a 1/16 of one percent sales tax increase to be used for corridor preservation.
In addition, the Legislature reduced the FY 1996 appropriation by $243,600 for Engineering Services and transferred six FTEs with the above mentioned funding to the construction functions in Region Management and the Career Development Pool.
The following intent statements were included with the Engineering Services appropriations:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Transportation continue to implement the adjustment improvements in the three urban regions and department headquarters in Salt Lake City as described in the document, Management and Operations Adjustment Plan, dated January 1992. It is also the intent of the Legislature that the department continue to evaluate and implement adjustment improvements consistent with the initiatives contained in the above named document, including those identified for construction engineering and planning.
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department make a report to the Interim Executive Appropriations Committee prior to the General 1997 Session, indicating the efficiencies and cost reductions that have been achieved and those that are anticipated as a result of implementing these improvement actions.
It is also the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with these improvement initiatives, be given authorization to adjust the assignment of FTE positions between line items as may be necessary in order to achieve the objectives of this plan. Such reassignments of FTE positions will be included in the report to the Interim Executive Appropriations Committee, and any transfer of funding will be facilitated through a supplemental appropriations request in the 1997 Session.
Construction
The Construction line item includes the Construction Management Program, Rehabilitation/Preservation, Federal Construction-New, State Construction-New, and the Centennial Highway Trust Fund. The Legislature approved a total FY 1997 budget for the Construction line item of $317,187,100.
. The Legislature made $110,000,000 available to the Department of Transportation for highway construction from the General Fund to the Centennial Highway Trust Fund as established by provisions of House Bill 458 - "Centennial Highway Fund". These funds are anticipated to be used to mitigate critical transportation issues particularly along the I-15 corridor.
. An appropriation of $500,000 was granted to implement provisions of House Bill 13 - "Traffic Noise Abatement Appropriation".
. Provisions of House Bill 428 - "South Jordan Transportation Funding" appropriated $150,000.
The Legislature approved $410,600 in FY 1996 supplementals for the Construction line item, including:
. Transfer of nine FTEs to the Career Development Pool from Engineering Services and Region Management.
. Transfer of federal funding from the Support Services line item to Federal Construction-New.
The following intent statements were included with the Construction line item:
It is the intent of the Legislature that there is an appropriation to the Department of Transportation from the Transportation Fund, not otherwise appropriated, a sum sufficient, but not more than the surplus of the Transportation Fund, to be used by the Department for the construction, rehabilitation and preservation of State highways in Utah.
It is the intent of the Legislature that the appropriation fund first, a maximum participation with the federal government for the construction of federally designated highways, as provided by law; next the rehabilitation and preservation of State highways, as provided by law, and last, the construction of State highways, as funding permits.
It is also the intent of the Legislature that the FTEs for the field crews may be adjusted to accommodate the increase or decrease in the Federal Construction Program. No portion of the money appropriated by this item shall be used either directly or indirectly to enhance or increase the appropriation otherwise made by this act to the Department of Transportation for other purposes.
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Transportation proceed with the planning, design, and construction of the Traffic Operations Center as part of the FY 1997 I-15 Design-Build package. This project shall be under the supervision of the director of the Division of Facilities Construction and
Management unless supervisory authority is delegated by the director. It is estimated that Phase l of this project will not exceed $6,300,000 and will include both Federal and State funding sources. This authorization is further subject to the prioritization of the State Transportation Commission.
It is the intent of the Legislature that $2,500,000 of the funds appropriated to the Construction line item for the State Construction - New Program be used for noise wall construction as prescribed in Senate Bill 52 from the 1996 General Session.
Region Management
The Legislature approved a total FY 1997 budget for Region Management of $13,684,400 and is an increase of $820,400 from FY 1996 estimated.
In addition, a decrease of $128,200 was made to the FY 1996 appropriation for Region Management to implement changes to in the reorganization of Engineering Services at headquarters and consultant management.
Equipment Management
The Legislature approved a FY 1997 expenditure level for Equipment Management of $15,657,200 and represents a $150,000 increase from FY 1996.
Maintenance Management
The Legislature approved a total FY 1997 budget for Maintenance Management of $65,591,700. The appropriation included the following new items:
. A one-time expenditure of $850,000 for underground storage tank mitigation was appropriated.
. Transportation Funds of $150,000 to replace federal funds for the three FTEs incident management team.
. An appropriation of $350,000 to the Land and Buildings Program to increase annual expenditures for rest area enhancements statewide.
The appropriation also included the following intent language:
It is the intent of the Legislature that any and all collections or cash income from the sale or salvage of land and buildings are to be lapsed to the Transportation Fund.
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Division of Facilities Construction and Management maximize the use of the State owned Utah Department of Transportation facility in Cedar City that is currently underutilized, with a state agency or agencies that are currently seeking office space in Cedar City. The relocation should take place as soon as possible after a favorable program review. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Utah Department of Transportation and whichever state agency becomes the occupant, enter into an agreement which provides for the continued ownership by the Utah Department of Transportation and also provides that no rent be charged to the new occupying state agency. However, the new occupying state agency shall be responsible for the operations and maintenance costs associated with the space it occupies. This agreement shall assure occupancy by the agency for at least a five year period and the Utah Department of Transportation shall provide at least one year notice of any requirement for the new occupying agency to vacate this space.
Sidewalk Construction
The Legislature approved a FY 1997 budget of the Sidewalk Construction Program of $500,000. The following intent was also included:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the funds appropriated from the Transportation Fund for pedestrian safety projects be used specifically to correct pedestrian hazards on State highways.
It is also the intent of the Legislature that the local authorities be encouraged to participate in the construction of pedestrian safety
devices. The appropriated funds are to be used according to the criteria set forth in Section 27-14-5, Utah Code Annotated 1953. The funds appropriated for sidewalk construction are nonlapsing.
If local governments cannot use their allocation of Sidewalk Safety Funds in two years, these funds will then be available for other governmental entities which are prepared to use the resources.
It is the intent of the Legislature that local participation in the Sidewalk Construction Program be on a 75 percent State - 25 percent local match basis.
Mineral Lease/Payment in Lieu
The Legislature approved a FY 1997 expenditure for the Mineral Lease/Payment In Lieu programs of $10,574,800. The following intent language was included with the appropriation:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the funds appropriated from the Federal Mineral Lease Account be used for improvement or reconstruction of roads not on the State Road System that have been heavily impacted by energy development.
It is also the intent of the Legislature that private industry engaged in the developing of the State's natural resources be encouraged to participate in the construction of the roadway leading to their facilities.
The funds appropriated for improvement or reconstruction of energy impacted roads that are not on the State Road System are nonlapsing.
B & C Road Fund
The Legislature approved $63,326,000 for distribution to local
governments through the B & C Road Account for FY 1997. This is an estimate only since the actual disbursement will depend on the total collection of motor fuel taxes collected in FY 1997. In addition, House Bill 393 - "Sales Tax for Infrastructure", as passed by the Legislature during the 1996 General Session, will provide approximately 1/16 of one percent sales tax to the B & C Road Fund beginning July 1, 1997.
Aeronautics
The Legislature approved a total FY 1997 budget for the Aeronautics Division of $17,202,400 which is a decrease of $1,022,500 from FY 1996.
The $1,000,000 funding difference represented between FY 1996 and FY 1997 was used to replace one of the airplanes in the State fleet and will not be repeated in FY 1997.
In addition, the Legislature approved a FY 1996 supplemental of $32,000 to replace a propeller on one of the state planes.