Task force told transportation fixes pay off

BOISE – A former state senator in Utah, who helped manage that state’s role in the 2002 Winter Olympics, told Idaho lawmakers that neglecting traffic problems and roads will harm the region’s economy.

Lane Beattie, now the Salt Lake Chamber president and CEO, on Friday told the Senate Treasure Valley Transportation Issues Task Force that businesses rely on a good transportation infrastructure.

He also said businesses need to take the lead in finding solutions to Idaho’s transportation problems.

“You either respond to it today or pay for it substantially tomorrow,” Beattie said. “You will cripple your economy in the process of trying to find a solution.”

The task force is made up of Sens. John McGee, R-Caldwell; Brad Little, R-Emmett; Stan Bastian, R-Eagle; and David Langhorst, D-Boise.

Officials with the Idaho Transportation Department predict a $200 million annual shortfall over the next 30 years. Southwest Idaho has about $1.7 billion in unfunded transportation needs.

Beattie said gridlock can also lead to pollution, causing businesses and people to move away because of poor quality of life. Poor air quality can also cause the federal government to step in.

“Gridlock, in every measurable entity, is the worst way of polluting,” he said.

Beattie said the Utah Legislature was told that 26,000 people would ride the city’s TRAX light rail system in 2015.

“People stood up in the committee meeting and said it would never work because people are married to their cars,” Beattie said.

But he said there are now already 56,000 riders.

“That’s how far we have exceeded the national experts’ predictions,” he said.

Beattie said the change in Utah’s transportation plans happened because “the business community stepped forward and said it is time to make these changes.”

One possible way to come up with money for transportation improvements is with a local sales tax, but a bill introduced at the last legislative session never made it out of committee.

Nampa Mayor Tom Dale asked the task force members to approve a local option funding proposal at the next session.

“Give us the authority to go to the people,” Dale said.

Beattie said Salt Lake County voters approved such a tax, increasing the local sales tax by a quarter-percent to pay for rail and road projects. He said sales tax also brings in money from tourists to help pay for local transportation.

The task force plans to meet several more times to consider transportation problems.