Salt Lake City appears to have bridged its funding gap to buy a new North Temple viaduct in time to meet the under-construction airport TRAX train.

City officials announced Thursday that both Salt Lake County and the Salt Lake City School District have agreed to steer their portion of property tax in the area toward the project under terms of a so-called Community Development Area (CDA).

"We've resolved all outstanding issues, and we expect it to be adopted," Mayor Ralph Becker's adviser Ben McAdams told the council.

Later, the body voted 51 to approve an interlocal agreement for the CDA.

"Without that [money] we may not be able to do it," Councilman Van Turner said. "The North Temple rebuild is such a vital part of our west-side development."

Utah Transit Authority wanted an answer on funding by year's end so it can design the North Temple TRAX route from downtown to the airport. The plan calls for tearing out the existing bridge next spring then spending a year-and-a-half building a new transit-friendly viaduct that would come down at 400 West. They want to complete the work before Christmas 2011.

"I look at this opportunity as an opportunity for our west part of downtown to grow," Councilman Carlton Christensen said.

But it took a lot of public agencies planting seeds of green.

Besides $25 million from UTA, the city received $20 million from the Legislature and $5 million from Wasatch Front Regional

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Council. Bonding against the CDA -- where the bulk of development on Gastronomy-owned property and elsewhere is expected between 2014-2016 -- will generate another $13 million. The city also hopes to raise a few million through a Special Assessment Area, which brings the bankroll to $65 million. Engineers say they expect to shave the viaduct's $71 million price tag down to $65 million by saving on reduced-price materials.

McAdams said "conservative" estimates project $100 million over the 25-year term of the CDA, which encompasses acreage roughly on par with The Gateway mall. The city, he pledged, will be repaid in full.

Also Thursday, the council set Dec. 8 as a protest period for the five property owners impacted by the special assessment zone. It is unclear where the city will find any additional money if the viaduct's neighbors refuse to pay.

The lone dissenter was Councilman Luke Garrott, who argued the mayor and his team "circumvented" the council's staff on the viaduct negotiation.

"We wouldn't have to rebuild this viaduct if TRAX were going where it should go," Garrott said, "which is on 600 West."

djensen@sltrib.com