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It's time — again — for the Salt Lake City Council to hurry up and vote on approving millions of dollars in matching funds aimed at capturing a federal grant to extend the Sugar House Streetcar.

Last year, the council rushed to approve a $2.5 million match to extend the S-Line from its terminus at McClelland Street at about 2230 South to Highland Drive and then north to the intersection of 2100 South.

But in the end, the feds did not award the grant to Salt Lake City.

Now, a new Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant is up for grabs. And the council must determine by Tuesday whether it will allocate an additional $3.1 million in matching funds.

That would bring Salt Lake City's total match to $5.6 million — $1.1 million of that is designated for trails. Salt Lake County already has pledged $6.5 million — all of which would go to trails.

The grant proposal, which will be submitted by the Utah Transit Authority, seeks $15 million in federal funds. The total, including local matching money, is $27.1 million.

UTA will put up no funds for the match. That is just one of the sticking points the council will hash out before it votes.

Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall said it is imperative that the streetcar be extended into the heart of Sugar House.

But she added this: "I will not consider further proposals with UTA as a partner without its funding participation."

Council Chairman Luke Garrott said he supports the concept of bringing the S-Line to the intersection of Highland Drive and 2100 South.

But he is skeptical of an outcome that would allow UTA to own the tracks that would run on city rights of way.

"That's the definition of a deal killer," he said.

The proposal just doesn't make sense, said Councilman Charlie Luke. Until the city develops a comprehensive mass-transportation plan, spending millions on one segment of track may not be a good investment.

"I was very clear last time around," he said, "that I would not be voting to fund the streetcar until we have a transit master plan in place."

Sugar House area Councilwoman Lisa Adams also has concerns about the expense of extending the line.

"I'm really torn on this," she said. "I think we didn't get it right the first time. It had to get to Highland Drive to be successful."

But this might be the right time to extend the S-Line because the water main under Highland Drive is about 100 years old and must be replaced. "I don't want to put the water line in and come back in a couple of years and tear the road up again [to extend the streetcar]."

In what could be something of a compromise, Councilman Kyle LaMalfa said he would like to fund the TIGER grant match with money that does not come out of the city's general fund.

Such a resolution, he said, would not have to immediately identify a funding source.

The existing two-mile S-Line that runs along an old railroad right of way from the TRAX Central Pointe Station at 221 West to McClelland Street cost $37 million to build.

In its current configuration, it is a single track. If the line is extended to Highland Drive, it would be a double track along that segment.

The date the TIGER grant will be awarded remains unclear.