03/22/1994 05:00 PM House TRA

  Number 312                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS thanked Representative Davies and Mr.                   
  Helfferich, and acknowledged the presence of Representative                  
  Hanley, who was to testify as sponsor of SSHB 301.                           
                                                                               
  HB 301 - BAN SALE OF SOME STUDDED TIRES AND STUDS                            
                                                                               
  Number 315                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE MARK HANLEY, Prime Sponsor, introduced SSHB
 by stating that the wear on roads due to the use of                      
  studded tires is documented.  He referred to his sponsor                     
  statement, which cites the pavement damage per vehicle, per                  
  40,000 miles of travel, to cost between $133 and $266.  He                   
  added that, particularly in European countries, studies have                 
  shown that the use of lightweight studs reduces the wear on                  
  the roads by up to 50%, thus illustrating that the weight of                 
  the studs contributes greatly to the pavement damage.  He                    
  said SSHB 301 would require the use of lightweight studs in                  
  Alaska, starting in 1998, although he made the point that                    
  the date could be moved if necessary -- it wasn't the                        
  sponsor's intention to unduly burden merchants.                              
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HANLEY suggested that, though he had been                     
  approached about banning studs altogether, he wasn't sure                    
  that such an action would be politically feasible; in fact,                  
  he added, studies suggest there are significant safety                       
  benefits to studded snow tires and the actual reduction in                   
  accidents is worth the road wear.  He also discussed the                     
  hardness of the road relative to the studs and said that                     
  Commissioner Campbell may wish to comment on this.                           
                                                                               
  Number 387                                                                   
                                                                               
  COMMISSIONER BRUCE CAMPBELL, Department of Transportation                    
  and Public Facilities, stated that Representative Hanley had                 
  touched on the highlights fairly well, but he wished to add                  
  that the safety differences between Scandinavian countries                   
  and Alaska is that they basically have only one system of                    
  highways, and their highways are essentially all alike,                      
  while in Alaska there are certain classes of roads which are                 
  interstate or major feeders, and subdivision roads -- the                    
  major roads are usually ice free, so the studs do more                       
  damage.  On bare pavement, studs are less efficient for                      
  stopping.                                                                    
                                                                               
  COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL added that he wished to have an                        
  amendment made regarding the hardness and the diameter, and                  
  stressed that this is a good area to compensate for the cuts                 
  in the maintenance budget which the Finance subcommittee has                 
  indicated are coming.   He concluded that, at the moment, a                  
  test was being conducted at the University of Alaska,                        
  Fairbanks, to see if there are alternative solutions; but                    
  for now, SSHB 301 is a good compromise.                                      
                                                                               
  Number 518                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY asked the commissioner what the                         
  hardness of the average aggregate is.                                        
                                                                               
  Number 520                                                                   
                                                                               
  COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL responded that it is approximately 64                  
  on the Rockwell scale, but that it varies tremendously                       
  around the state -- 64 would be the maximum.                                 
                                                                               
  Number 560                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS asked Representative Phillips if she                    
  wished to testify regarding the stud issue.                                  
                                                                               
  Number 561                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS laughed and affirmed Representative                  
  Davis' question, stating that she has driven on steel belted                 
  all-weather radial tires for the last 26 years, in                           
  Southcentral Alaska, and is a firm believer in all-weather                   
  radials.  She added that she would endorse Representative                    
  Hanley's bill as the first step, and certainly a part of                     
  improving the budget situation.                                              
                                                                               
  Number 590                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS asked Representative Hanley if he had                   
  any reaction to the amendment proposed by Commissioner                       
  Campbell.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Number 594                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HANLEY responded that he had no problem with                  
  the diameter clarification, and his only concern was that he                 
  doesn't want to get to the point where a game of chicken is                  
  being played -- he did not intend to outlaw studs entirely,                  
  just to modify the hardness, and not be involved in a                        
  roundabout method of outlawing them altogether.                              
                                                                               
  Number 601                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON made the point that this harkened back                 
  to the time certain paint was outlawed; none could be sold                   
  and yet anyone that had an outdrive ended up shipping it up                  
  from Seattle, so that, ultimately, the law was taken off the                 
  books again.  He concluded that, if the alternate hardness                   
  studs were not available, he'd be hesitant to require their                  
  use.                                                                         
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS suggested that hopefully the next                       
  committee of referral could research further to see if the                   
  hardness factor can be met, and he would like to see the                     
  bill moved on.                                                               
                                                                               
  Number 625                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE MULDER moved that SSHB 301 be moved from                      
  committee with the attached positive fiscal note and                         
  individual recommendations.                                                  
                                                                               
  Number 627                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS asked if there were objections; there                   
  were none, and so he declared SSHB 301 to be moved from                      
  committee.