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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Capitol Preservation Board has approved the governor's plan to shift about 150 state employees to the state Fairpark to open parking space at the Capitol during the upcoming legislative session.
The parking problem has been made worse by the Capitol reconstruction work.
"It's not rocket science. You have to find more space or find other ways to get people up here." Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday.
Capitol Hill has about 880 parking spaces available, not including 300 underground stalls reserved for legislators and state executives.
During the legislative session, 1,100 state employees, 250 construction workers, nearly 90 temporary legislative staff workers, 75 interns and the public will compete for those spots.
Adding to the parking problem, the City Council may designate resident-only parking zones in surrounding neighborhoods.
Under the administration's plan, Capitol Hill employees who can will work out of temporary quarters.
Two 15-passenger vans donated by Utah State University will shuttle the workers to the Capitol during the day. Videoconferencing equipment will be installed at the Fairpark to facilitate larger meetings. Others state workers will car pool or telecommute. And about 65 construction workers will be allowed to park on the Capitol grounds.
The effort is expected to cost $7,500.
Their vacated parking spaces in state lots will be reassigned to legislative and other state employees.
Legislators' interns likely will park at lots downtown and ride the bus to Capitol Hill.
The legislators cut reporters' parking in half and moved it to a parking lot south of the Capitol.
They also carved out space for their short-term legislative staff.
Everyone else, apparently, is on their own.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
