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John Daley ReportingVoters approved a quarter cent sales tax increase in November and today city and county leaders in Salt Lake approved sweeping transportation improvements.
We're talking about commuter rail and about four light rail lines as well as some money for roads, and all of it will be built in the next few years.
You'll recall that voters passed Proposition 3 by a large margin to raise around a billion dollars over 30 years.
With today's decision, money can now go to a commuter rail linking Salt Lake with Utah County where voters there approved money to pay for a rail to Provo.
The four light rail lines will go to Draper, West and South Jordan, West Valley and the airport from downtown.
Money to help with the widening I-80 between State Street and 13th East was also part of the deal.
Those improvements are now all on the fast track after the 26-member Salt Lake County Council of Governments approved the full package with just two members voting against.
Peter Corroon, Salt Lake County Mayor: "This is the first time from what I understand in the united states where we've had road and rail prioritized together so I think we all recognized something needed to be done and our community came together and got it done. So it's a great day."
Russ Wall, Taylorsville Mayor: "My only objection is the original intent from the mayors and from the county council was to provide funding for light rail commuter rail wasn't part of the conversation at that time. I think commuter rail ought to be funded. I think it should be funded through the state legislature."
These projects have all been on the drawing board for some time, but the vote in November, combined with today's decision, means construction can begin very soon.
Expect to see work begin next year with all of these lines completed within 10 to 12 years.
