A series of massive transit projects will be taken over by the state under a bill being introduced in the legislature.
The bill, which is set to be made public soon, would have Utah's Department of Transportation oversee development of projects like double-tracking Frontrunner, expanding light rail lines and bus rapid transit instead of the Utah Transit Authority.
In an interview with FOX 13 News, Rep. Schultz said UTA would run the trains and buses when the projects are done, but it would be the state that develops it. Some of the projects could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Rep. Schultz argued it would potentially save taxpayers billions in the long run by having UDOT oversee the development of these major transportation projects. UTA would still have the ability to develop its own projects, but the major ones with state dollars fall under UDOT oversight.
Years ago, UTA was the subject of some blistering audits and legislative scrutiny over its management practices. Some lawmakers floated the idea of the state taking over the transit authority. Rep. Schultz, who was among UTA's critics, insisted the legislature was not instituting a slow-takeover of the agency.
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