Clear Differences on Proposed Bridge Over Utah Lake

Last week in Orem I had the opportunity to debate my opponent on
several important issues facing Utah County. One of the questions
was on the Utah Lake Bridge proposal. I believe the responses once
again show clear differences to our approaches and feelings about the
issues.

Below you will find a summary of the responses and a link to watch
the full video for yourself on You Tube. We will also be putting the
other questions and answers on You Tube from that debate over the
next couple days.


The Question was:
There is a proposal to build a bridge across Utah Lake by a
private group. Do you support this effort? If so, how can you
guarantee the taxpayers won’t foot the bill should the group fold?
Summary of Joel Wright's answer:

1. Governor Herbert and his administrative staff will decide this.
2. If the private sector can come and solve one of our transportation
problems, let's make it happen. I'm all for it.
3. The State of Utah should return to Utah County all the revenue
they get from leasing the easement over Utah Lake, and Utah County
should insure that 100% of those funds go to improving the Lake.
4. There should be a construction (or completion) bond on the
construction to make sure the bridge will be completed when it is
started.

Summary of Gary Anderson's answer:

1. I am not for the bridge proposed right now.
2. We need to do an Environmental Impact Study "EIS", and let that
study tell us if a bridge is feasible
3. There are three developers that will pay for the bridge wanted by
the Lake, which an EIS will tell us
4. The developer/owner of the bridge should not make a profit from
the bridge because they will make so much money from the land
across the lake once it becomes accessible. Direct quote: "We have
them develop it, we have them build it, and then the money
(and this is another problem I have with the present bridge) the
money, if that is a toll bridge and it has to be a $2 toll or
something, the money that is made in excess of the debt service on
that bridge goes back into the Lake."

YouTube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEK0f7mJL_A

As you can see we have very different views on this issue. I look
forward to talking with you more about the issues that affect Utah
County including the Bridge.

If you would like to talk in person please see the complete schedule
of all such meetings here:
http://wright4countycommissioner.blogspot.com/2010/04/where-you-can-meet-me-in-person.html

Alternatively, you are always welcome to call me on my
cell phone at 801-368-5385.

As always, I also ask for your vote April 24th at the
Utah County Convention!
Warm Regards,

Joel Wright

p.s. Please always feel free to call me or email me questions or
concerns, I will always be engaged and look forward to earning
your vote!

Bridge over Utah Lake - for or against?

As many of you are aware, a private group named "Utah Crossing" has proposed a privately owned toll bridge across Utah Lake. Apparently the only approval they need at this point in order to start construction is approval from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, and then negotiate a lease for an easement across Utah Lake from the State of Utah, since the State of Utah owns the actual land under Utah Lake.

You can submit your comments either for or against the bridge across Utah Lake from now until Nov. 30, 2009 at this web site:

http://www.ffsl.utah.gov/sovlands/utahlake/commentform.php

Also, the private group "Utah Crossing" apparently had a web site up making their side until recently, but it has apparently been taken down. You can still find it if you Google "Utah Crossing" and click on the cached link.

There is also a group opposed to the current bridge proposal across Utah Lake, and you can find their web site here:

http://www.fightthebridge.org/

Posted in the comments below are the comments I formally submitted to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands explaining the concerns I would need to have satisfied before I could support a bridge over Utah Lake.