Legislature(2011 - 2012)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/22/2012 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB131 | |
| SB225 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 225 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 131-COMMUNITY AND TRANSPORTATION ADV. BOARD
3:46:21 PM
CHAIR OLSON announced the consideration of HB 131.
3:46:26 PM
TERRY HARVEY, Staff for Representative Cathy Munoz, Alaska State
Legislature, introduced HB 131 speaking to the following sponsor
statement:
House Bill 131 creates an Alaska Community and Public
Transportation Advisory Board, which will assist in
the development and procedural recommendations for
existing programs of state, federal, and local
agencies that provide community-based transportation
services. Public and community transportation is
integral in connecting communities, supporting
development and serving our most vulnerable
constituent.
The designation of this board is a recommendation from
the Governor's Coordinated Transportation Task Force,
which was released in the February 2010
Recommendations Report. The board will continue
efforts to address public and community transportation
and help fill the gap in transportation for
individuals who require more specialized travel -
senior citizens, low-income individuals, persons with
disabilities, and those who are transit-dependent.
The board will consist of 13 members from departments
within state and local governments, Denali Commission,
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, nonprofits, and
those with expertise in transportation needs for
senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and
transit-dependent individuals. This broad range of
membership will facilitate communication and
strategies that will benefit communities of all sizes.
HB 131 has support from the Alaska Mobility Coalition,
the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special
Education, Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug
Abuse, the Alaska Commission on Aging, Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority, Alaska Brain Injury Network,
and the Alaska Suicide Prevention Council.
3:49:44 PM
SENATOR WAGONER questioned the need to load the advisory board
with commissioners, other than the commissioner of
transportation.
MR. HARVEY said the Governor's task force felt strongly that the
departments of transportation, health and social services and
labor and workforce development have day-to-day dealings with
the 11.4 percent of Alaskans that use coordinated
transportation. He pointed out that the bill gives the
commissioner the discretion to appoint an appropriate designee
to serve on the board.
SENATOR MENARD commented on her advisory board experience,
agreed with Senator Wagoner regarding overloading busy
commissioners with board appointments, and opined that an 11-
member board was more than adequate.
3:54:33 PM
MR. HARVEY explained that the decision to have a 13-member board
was based on the challenges of transportation in the state and
bringing in a broad range of groups that have a stake in
community transportation.
SENATOR MENARD reiterated that smaller boards function better
and are more productive.
MR. HARVEY said he appreciated the comments.
SENATOR WAGONER suggested that the board could ask the
departments to send an expert to provide input on a particular
agenda item when it was appropriate. He expressed concern about
the time away from work and travel costs to attend meetings.
3:58:08 PM
CHAIR OLSON asked if other states have similar transportation
advisory boards and if they are successful.
MR. HARVEY answered that many states have this type of advisory
board. He deferred to Mr. Ottesen for details.
CHAIR OLSON asked which area of the state the board would
primarily serve.
MR. HARVEY answered that there are coordinated transportation
operations throughout the state. The idea is that all areas of
the state would be represented.
CHAIR OLSON asked how he could access the coordinated
transportation system in Ketchikan.
MR. HARVEY answered that Ketchikan has a public bus system, a
senior service system, and a disabilities agency that offers
transportation.
CHAIR OLSON asked about Kotzebue.
MR. HARVEY offered to follow up with the information.
SENATOR MENARD commented that a 9-member advisory board was
sufficient, because the governor makes the decisions based on
the advice given.
4:01:23 PM
JEFFERY OTTESEN, Director, Division of Program Development,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF), said
he served as chair of the Governor's Coordinated Transportation
Task Force under both Governor Palin and Governor Parnell. He
also oversees the National Rural Transit Assistance Program,
which is the transit money that goes to communities statewide
that are not in the metropolitan planning areas of Fairbanks
Metropolitan Area Transportation System (FMATS) and Anchorage
Metropolitan Area Transportation System (AMATS). That money goes
to both scheduled transit service and the tribal, local and
nonprofit agencies that provide transit services.
When the federal government realized it was spending money on
about 65 transportation programs to serve different subgroups of
citizens, President Bush signed an executive order that
encouraged coordination at the federal level. It continues to be
a federal priority. Many other states have established permanent
commissions. He offered to follow up with exact numbers.
MR. OTTESEN said that the task force identified about $80
million, primarily from DOLWD, DHSS, and DOTPF, which was
probably the reason that the sponsor included those three
departments on the advisory board. He relayed that he had little
trouble pushing coordination within DOTPF, but it was more
challenging to coordinate across "silos" or departments and
among the various recipients of the federal dollars. It can be
tough for someone who can't drive and needs medical services in
an urban hub, he said. A previous committee heard that someone
had to use an ambulance to get to a medical appointment. He
noted that that was paid for by some government program. The
committee also learned that in Juneau almost two-thirds of the
employees at the big box retail stores rely on the bus to get to
and from work. The need for public transit is so profound that
Fred Meyers aligned its work schedule with the bus schedule. He
confirmed the statistic that about one in nine Alaskans need
coordinated transportation.
4:08:31 PM
SENATOR WAGONER commented that he often sees City and Borough of
Juneau buses running nearly empty and school buses serve the
same area. He asked how much the state pays to transport
students and if the bill would do anything to coordinate that
effort.
MR. OTTESEN said the task force discussed coordinating with
school buses. He explained that until very recently state
general fund money wasn't put into scheduled public transit, it
was generally paid for with federal and local money. Responding
to comments from Senator Wagoner, he said the state receives
Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) money and is allowed
to use federal highway money as well.
He said the bill is about efficiency through coordination.
SENATOR WAGONER suggested pursuing the idea of having
schoolchildren ride public buses.
MR. OTTESEN discussed the program "Safe Routes to School" that
is intended to encourage students to walk or bike to school.
Sometimes the students have to use a public bus because schools
aren't always located in neighborhoods. He noted that DOTPF had
talked to the MatSu Borough about aligning school locations to
the program. He commented that placing a school in the wrong
location ensures the government will have to pay for bussing for
50 years.
4:13:46 PM
SENATOR MENARD commented on the challenges of busing students to
school. She reiterated her belief that the advisory board was
too large and asked if he could suggest efficiencies.
MR. OTTESEN declined. He said the sponsor asked him to discuss
the power of coordination.
With regard to cost, he clarified that the board would rely on
federal transit money that the state receives annually in the
capital budget. The fiscal note technically shows zero because
the bill does not change DOTPF's operating budget. If there
weren't a board, DOTPF would probably do coordination ad hoc. He
reiterated that the department had been trying to coordinate for
12 years.
SENATOR MENARD acknowledged that she was belaboring her
objection to the size of the advisory board.
SENATOR WAGONER commented that the legislature should cut
DOTPF's operating budget by $110,000 if there isn't a board
since it can support the board with its existing budget.
MR. OTTESEN clarified that it was money from the capital budget.
Those funds come annually from the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) to further coordination. The fiscal note
shows no change to the operating budget.
SENATOR WAGONER said it was confusing because the advisory
committee was not a capital item.
4:17:40 PM
CHAIR OLSON asked if the state might have to backfill the
funding if federal funds were withdrawn in the future.
MR. OTTESEN acknowledged that it was a real risk, but
coordination would likely continue to be a priority and FTA
money would probably continue to flow to the state. Transit has
a growing cast of supporters in Washington D.C.
4:19:56 PM
CHAIR OLSON asked if the department was in favor of the bill.
MR. OTTESEN answered that the department had to remain neutral,
but did support coordination. The Federal Transit Administration
expects DOTPF to make coordination happen.
SENATOR WAGONER asked if the bill excluded Anchorage and
Fairbanks.
MR. OTTESEN clarified that the coordination efforts extend into
Anchorage and Fairbanks because it is a statewide expectation,
but the money for buses, equipment, or bus stops only goes to
the non-urban areas.
SENATOR WAGONER asked if Juneau was eligible for federal transit
money
MR. OTTESEN said yes.
SENATOR MENARD asked if the federal money pays for signage.
MR. OTTESEN said yes.
CHAIR OLSON opened public testimony.
4:22:40 PM
ANDRA NATIONS, representing herself, said that as a disability
advocate she served on both the 2008 and 2011 task force. That
work included performing needs assessments, taking public input,
visiting communities statewide to hear about coordination needs,
and pinpointing barriers and costs to coordination. The final
report outlined the coordinated transportation action plan for
surface transportation and proposed strategies for increasing
efficiency and effectiveness. The idea was to help the various
agencies work together.
MS. NATIONS said the task force also heard from a number of
private transportation agencies that have been trying to do
effective coordination.
She said the task force identified as a priority an advisory
board with commissioners as members, because those state
agencies have the authority to work on the barriers that were
identified. She said passage of this bill will help implement a
coordinated transportation plan that will ensure reliable
transportation for all Alaskans.
4:27:08 PM
PAT BRANSON, Director, Kodiak Senior Center (KSC), said KSC
operates the Kodiak area coordinated transit system for 17
nonprofits in the community. It has been in operation for more
than 10 years under the guidance of the local human service
coalition. She said she served on the Governor's Coordinated
Transportation Task Force. This was the first time the state
transportation needs were assessed and the different funding
silos evaluated. She emphasized the efficiency of coordinated
systems and noted that cabs are an important component in places
like Kotzebue and Kodiak.
MS. BRANSON said one of the most important items that the task
force identified was to continue the coordinated transportation
work with an advisory board being established. The task force
had representatives from many of the agencies that are proposed
for the advisory board. The commissioners' designees helped move
things along by getting answers quickly from the different
funding silos (departments). She said she understands the
concern about the size and cost of the board, but it was very
valuable having those representatives on the task force.
She encouraged the committee to support the bill.
4:31:42 PM
MARIE DARLIN, Coordinator, Association of American Retired
Persons, stated support for HB 131. She said AARP was aware of
the need and the work that had gone into assessing the
transportation needs of the state. She reminded the committee
that Alaska's senior population was growing and reliable
transportation was important to this sector. The advisory board
will help effective transportation planning and efficient use of
the different funds. She said each area in the state has
different needs and offers different services, and transit is
more difficult in some areas than others. Juneau has a very good
coordinated system, but this is not common in other areas. She
emphasized the importance of having one group look at the needs
and various funding sources.
4:35:32 PM
DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging,
Department of Health and Social Services, said the commission
believes that transportation is vitally important for seniors.
The commission surveys seniors every four years and
transportation is always a priority issue because about one in
five seniors chooses not to drive. When elder community forums
are conducted in locations around the state, transportation
comes up as an important issue. Seniors need transportation to
get to doctor appointments, the beauty shop, restaurants, the
senior center for lunch, and volunteer locations. They have to
get out of the house to participate in community life, but
without transportation they're homebound.
She reminded the committee that Alaska has the fastest growing
senior population of any state. More than 90,000 residents are
age 65 or older, and this age sector is growing faster than any
other. Alaskans have diversified needs so it is important to
have a body that does broad perspective planning that takes into
account all the needs in all locations.
CHAIR OLSON asked the sponsor to comment on the bill.
4:38:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CATHY MUNOZ, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of
HB 131, summarized that through executive order both Governor
Palin and Governor Parnell established a coordinated
transportation task force. That body recently published a report
and identified departments within the state that have access to
federal funding for transportation. To maximize the use of those
federal dollars, it is very important to have those voices to
work together to identify the gaps in service and how
coordination can prevent duplication.
CHAIR OLSON asked if anyone opposed the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ answered that she wasn't aware of any
opposition.
CHAIR OLSON asked what the long-term plans were for financing.
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ answered that the bill had a 2016 sunset
and it was intended to maximize federal dollars.
CHAIR OLSON commented that coordination made sense.
[CHAIR OLSON held HB 131 in committee.]
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