Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/09/1997 01:00 PM House TRA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 9, 1997
1:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bill Williams, Chairman
Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chairman
Representative John Cowdery
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Jerry Sanders
Representative Kim Elton
Representative Al Kookesh
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15(FIN)
Relating to reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.
- MOVED CSSJR 15(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SJR 15
SHORT TITLE: REAUTHORIZATION OF ISTEA
SPONSOR(S): TRANSPORTATION
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/17/97 379 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
02/17/97 379 (S) FINANCE
03/10/97 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/10/97 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/13/97 716 (S) FIN RPT CS 4DP 1NR SAME TITLE
03/13/97 716 (S) DP: SHARP, PEARCE, PHILLIPS, PARNELL
03/13/97 716 (S) NR: ADAMS
03/13/97 716 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (S.FIN)
03/18/97 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP RM 203
03/18/97 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
03/21/97 803 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR & 1DP 3/21/97
03/21/97 805 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
03/21/97 806 (S) FIN CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
03/21/97 806 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT
03/21/97 806 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSJR 15(FIN)
03/21/97 806 (S) PASSED Y15 N- E4 A1
03/21/97 810 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/24/97 800 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
03/24/97 800 (H) TRANSPORTATION
04/09/97 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
CRAIG JOHNSON, Legislative Assistant
to Senator Jerry Ward
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 423
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-4940
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SJR 15.
SAM KITO, Legislative Liaison
Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-3904
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 15.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 97-21, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN BILL WILLIAMS called the House Transportation Standing
Committee to order at 1:00 p.m. Members present at the call to
order were Representatives Williams, Masek, Cowdery, Hudson,
Sanders, Elton and Kookesh.
CSSJR 15(FIN) - REAUTHORIZATION OF ISTEA
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced the committee would hear CSSJR 15(FIN),
"Relating to reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991." He stated that the
reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act (ISTEA), is one of the more critical issues in front
of congress this year, the bulk of our highway funds come to our
state through this program.
Number 081
CRAIG JOHNSON, Legislative Assistant to Senator Jerry Ward, stated
that this legislation calls for congress to re-enact ISTEA, which
is due to expire September 30, 1997. Basically since 1991, Alaska
has received over $1 billion in federal funds from the ISTEA
program which accounts for one-third of Alaska's total
transportation budget in that period. He stated that this
resolution calls for an increase in funding to the state of Alaska
if possible, but in any case, that the funds not be reduced. He
stated that it calls for the use of ISTEA funds to repair existing
transportation infra-structures and calls upon congress to allow
the states more flexibility in the use of the funds. It also asks
for recognition of Alaska's unique Arctic and Sub-Arctic climate
which is very unique to the states in utilizing the funds. He
stated that it also asks that ISTEA now require major investment
studies as mandated by the Federal Highway Regulations for Alaska.
Basically any expansion of more than 1-mile requires a study, that
we are asking not be required by the state of Alaska. This
resolution also calls for ISTEA funds to build low volume roads.
He stated that there is no need for a road that handles 20 to 30
cars a day outside Nome to be built to the same standards as Egan
Drive and in some cases this is the situation. ISTEA also calls
for the funds to improve pioneer access and historical roadways and
trails. He believed that a strong signal to our delegation in
Washington that we support this resolution, would go a long way in
helping ISTEA pass in its existing form or in an improved form to
benefit the state of Alaska.
Number 258
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COWDERY stated that he noticed this resolution
is a committee substitute and asked how this resolution is
different from the original.
Number 477
MR. JOHNSON replied that it is not significantly different. There
was some language about trails that was added, the Arctic and Sub-
Arctic conditions was added, basically minor technical changes
reorganizing that Alaska is unique. There were no major changes to
the overall impact of the resolution.
Number 313
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that page 3, lines 10 through 12,
states "Further resolved, that the Alaska State Legislature
respectfully requests that Congress to allow for a portion of the
enhancement set aside funds to be used to maintain or improve
pioneer access trails and historical roadways;" and asked if he
could explain that.
Number 338
MR. JOHNSON replied that Sam Kito, legislative liason for
DOT/PF,649 would probably be able to answer it better, but his
basic understanding is that if there are pioneer trails and roads,
we could use the funds to enhance those existing trails.
Number 371
REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON stated that he is fully in support of
the legislation and believes that given the presentation in front
of the legislature by Senator Stevens, that it is very important
that we identify those elements in ISTEA that are under study for
change, that would affect us or harm us. He stated that it is
important that we give the Senator and our congressional delegation
a strong message from the legislature that it is extremely
important and we do not want any changes that will harm us. He
stated that as far as using some of the enhancement funds to
improve pioneer access trails and historical roadways, it is
something that we have requested before and thinks that it is the
right thing to do as it will give us another element of
flexibility.
Number 477
SAM KITO, Legislative Liaison, Special Assistant, Office of the
Commissioner, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities,
stated that the department would like to go on record as strongly
supporting SJR 15, which provides for continuation of the ISTEA
provisions that are beneficial to Alaska. He stated that one of
the key items, that a lot of other states are also looking at, is
removing the requirement for a major investment study which is
something that is also outlined in this resolution. He stated that
in reference to the specific comment about using transportation
enhancement funds for pioneer access trails, he doesn't have a
specific answer. He stated that he does have an answer based on
some of the comments offered in the Senate Finance Standing
Committee. He stated Senator Torgerson's interest was to try and
take some of the funding that we have received for transportation
enhancement and turn it back into maintenance or upgrading some of
the trails that we have in the state. He stated that he does not
know how that will result in congress but it sends a message to
congress that the intent of the legislature is that we try and
maintain our flexibility for use of the transportation enhancement
or trail funds.
Number 587
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that there is a history to historical
access and pioneer access and that history can have a fairly
dramatic effect on landowners, whether it is corporate lands or
private lands. He assumed that when you are talking about the
enhancement set aside funds that this is a diversion of funds from
historical overlooks or bike trails to this new category of
identifying access trails or improving access trails.
Number 649
MR. KITO replied, "My of that is more of an expansion of the
ability to use funds for multiple purposes, not directing from the
legislature that they be used for the specific purpose but
providing that the members of congress recognize the state of
Alaska's unique situation and allow the use of these funds for more
than just the standard trails that you see in the lower 48." He
stated that it is a recognition of another possible use of the
transportation enhancement funds.
Number 700
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON made a motion to move CSSJR 15(FIN), 0-
LS0505, Version F, with individual recommendations, asked unanimous
consent, with a zero fiscal note.
Number 720
REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK stated that she had a comment to make.
She stated that she has been working on this issue since she got to
Juneau and spent a lot of time with the commissioner. She stated
that right now we are number 28 amongst all the states that we have
to compete against. She stated that she was told that it is going
to be really difficult to stay at 28 but sending this resolution
down will really be helpful to the state of Alaska because we are
competing with state's like California and Texas, that have a lot
more highways and a lot more people and they put a lot more money
back into the system. She stated that it is really important that
we follow through as to the kind of changes we are going to make
and how it is going to affect Alaska. She stated as far as the
trails go, it will be interesting to see if they will allow that
type of money to go into trails. From what she understands the
money is going basically for the highways and mass transit programs
and it will be interesting to see if they are going to shift gears
and change it. She stated that she fully supports this resolution
and we should send it down to Washington D.C. as soon as possible.
Number 834
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there was any objections, hearing none,
CSSJR 15(FIN) moved from the House Transportation Standing
Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS adjourned the House Transportation Standing
Committee at 1:20 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|