This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Safe, efficient transportation infrastructure matters to all of us. It's important to commuters, businesses and their customers, schoolkids, neighborhoods. Less gridlock and congestion will even help improve air quality. The condition of our transportation system affects everyone.

We are a rapidly growing metropolitan area. We have more cars, more trips and hectic schedules we're trying to meet. We must accommodate the growth by expanding our transportation network and also maintain our existing roads, so they'll do a safe job for a longer period of time.

Many Salt Lake County residents received a ballot in the mail this week, listing Proposition 1. This proposal calls for a small sales tax increase — 1 penny for every $4 spent — to be used by local government to make much-needed repairs to our infrastructure, such as road maintenance, sidewalk and trail improvements and additional bus service. Without more revenue for the cities and for the county, the state of disrepair facing our roads will get worse.

Proposition 1, the local option sales tax for transportation, is addressing those local-level shortages. It's being responsible to the public works requirement of your local governments. It's our job to ensure this infrastructure is sound and well-maintained.

Current revenue from the gasoline tax doesn't come close to paying the cost of transportation needs in our communities. Currently all cities in Salt Lake County have transportation budgets that are in the red. In total, they are $135 million short of the funds they need — money to fill potholes, address troublesome intersections and fix sidewalks. Only about one-fourth of local transportation funds come from the gas tax, so general fund money must be used to make up the difference. Salt Lake County receives about 6 percent of its needed transportation funds from its share of the gas tax revenue. Each year, the list of needs gets longer. For many county residents, it's discouraging to look at the project backlog list and feel hopeful about improvements anytime soon.

Proposition 1 will help us catch up and preserve what's most important in our communities — safety, efficiency, air quality, a vibrant economy. The price of doing nothing is much greater than the cost of investing in Proposition 1. It will be like making a substantial down payment on our transportation system debt and displaying actual progress for citizens in the form of better-maintained roads.

One example is 8000 West, between SR-201 and 4100 South. This important route for residents on the west side of the valley continually needs preventive maintenance. What could be a two-week project, costing $285,000, will most likely require 12 months and more than $4 million if the budget funding gap persists.

Infrastructure keeps our community moving forward. It's not always glamorous, but it's an important and necessary feature of a modern economy and a fast-growing metropolitan area. I hope you'll consider making a modest investment as a voter now, so that we can keep our promises to you in the form of fewer obstacles on your travels to the places where you need and want to be.

Ben McAdams is mayor of Salt Lake County.