Are Roads an Economic Development Tool?

"You cannot grow businesses and have a healthy economy unless you have two things: a trained and educated workforce, and you need infrastructure. We will not have jobs unless we have the infrastructure that supports those jobs." With the freeway and local road system approaching capacity, and no money for expansion due before 2020, Utah County leaders need to rethink their transportation funding. A proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase would raise $11-12 million a year for highway and commuter rail projects. Since the county has had retailers refuse to come because of the lack of infrastructure, money put into transportation could have direct economic development benefits. Utah County has historically had the lowest taxes in the state at $125 per resident.