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John Daley Reporting Transit gets high marks, with Trax leading the way. That's the word from an exclusive new KSL/Deseret Morning News poll by Dan Jones.
You'll recall that last week voters signed off on a ballot measure which will bring 50 million dollars a year to transportation infrastructure.
How should the rest of the money be divvied up? That is the question we asked.
Get ready for big transportation projects rolling down the tracks. Last week a solid majority of voters gave them the green light.
In Salt Lake County, Prop 3 okayed a quarter cent sales tax hike. The question? How to spend it.
Christina Nelson/ Highland Resident: "I would say roads, for the most part."
Eric Vawdrey/ Riverton Resident: "First I would go for Trax."
By law, a quarter of the tax money raised goes to buy land for future road routes like Mountain View corridor.
In our poll of 160 Salt Lake County residents, 28% prefer the rest be spent on road widening and other improvements.
66% want the money to go to transit projects like new Trax or commuter rail.
Joan Makin/ Ogden Resident: "I like the roads first because that's how I travel. The light rail is great for downtown Salt Lake."
Christian Nelson/ Highland Resident: "I do appreciate Trax and commuter rail. But I'd focus on roads."
"Do you think that's most needed?"
Christian Nelson: "Yeah."
Of those who liked transit, 65% say their first choice is the four new Trax extensions to Draper, South Jordan, West Valley, and the airport.
28% like commuter rail in addition to a couple of the Trax extensions.
A Trax rider would like to see better east-west options.
Eric Vawdrey/ Riverton Resident: "Because I think that's the biggest problem. I don't think the north-south is as much of an issue as it is trying to get off in the areas where people actually live."
Amy Buchanan/ Hooper Resident: "My husband works down here, and he says the traffic is really bad. He get down here at 5:00 to miss the traffic. So he would really appreciate commuter rail."
So what happens next? Local mayors and members of the Salt Lake County Council will meet to prioritize the projects. Utah state lawmakers will weigh in, too, and may exert political pressure to finish roads, ahead of rails.
More on that in tomorrow's Deseret Morning News.
