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Salt Lake Organizing Committee transportation planners did not expect Congress to provide funds this year for a new access road to the Soldier Hollow cross-country skiing/biathlon course near Heber City, or for state Road 248, the "back road" into Deer Valley and Park City off U.S. 40.
So they were pleasantly surprised earlier this month when Congress came through with $6.7 million for those two projects, part of $42 million set aside in a transportation appropriations bill for Olympics-related work. The bill included $38 million for north-south light rail as well.
But SLOC transportation officials are not getting too excited yet. The success of their appeals for federal aid cannot be judged fully until U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater disperses the "discretionary" funds at his disposal.
"We're sitting on pins and needles," said John Njord, a state employee on loan to SLOC, where he is deputy director of transportation. "Hopefully, we'll be successful. It will mean a great deal to us. . . . We feel like we're in...