Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/13/2000 01:08 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 13, 2000
1:08 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Andrew Halcro, Chairman
Representative Beverly Masek
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative John Cowdery
Representative Allen Kemplen
Representative Albert Kookesh
Representative Vic Kohring
OTHER HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jeannette James
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 288
"An Act authorizing the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities to enter into an agreement with the Inter-Island Ferry
Authority regarding the operation of the Clarke Bay Terminal,
Prince of Wales Island."
- MOVED SB 288 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 38
Expressing support for a cooperative United States-Canada
feasibility study on extending the North American rail system
through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to Alaska.
- MOVED SJR 38 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SB 288
SHORT TITLE: APPROVE CLARKE BAY TERMINAL AGREEMENT
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
3/03/00 2510 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
3/03/00 2510 (S) TRA, FIN
3/16/00 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
3/16/00 (S) -- Meeting Canceled --
3/23/00 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
3/23/00 (S) Moved Out of Committee
3/23/00 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
3/24/00 2723 (S) TRA RPT 4DP
3/24/00 2723 (S) DP: WARD, MILLER, LINCOLN, PEARCE
3/24/00 2723 (S) FISCAL NOTE (DOT)
4/05/00 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
4/05/00 (S) Moved Out of Committee
4/05/00 (S) RLS AT 11:30 AM FAHRENKAMP 203
4/05/00 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
4/05/00 2870 (S) FIN RPT 4DP 2NR
4/05/00 2870 (S) DP: TORGERSON, PHILLIPS, LEMAN,
WILKEN
4/05/00 2870 (S) NR: PARNELL, GREEN
4/05/00 2870 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DOT)
4/07/00 2929 (S) RLS TO CALENDAR AND 1 OR 04/07/00
4/07/00 2930 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
4/07/00 2930 (S) ADVANCED TO 3RD READING UNAN CONSENT
4/07/00 2930 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 288
4/07/00 2931 (S) PASSED Y18 N- E2
4/07/00 2933 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
4/08/00 2936 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
4/08/00 2936 (H) TRA, FIN
4/13/00 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: SJR 38
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA CANADA RAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
2/15/00 2303 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2/15/00 2303 (S) TRA
2/22/00 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
2/22/00 (S) Scheduled But Not Heard
3/02/00 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
3/02/00 (S) Moved Out of Committee
3/02/00 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
3/03/00 (S) RLS AT 11:30 AM FAHRENKAMP 203
3/03/00 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
3/03/00 2509 (S) TRA RPT 3DP 1NR
3/03/00 2509 (S) DP: WARD, PEARCE, MILLER; NR: LINCOLN
3/03/00 2509 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (S.TRA)
3/22/00 2692 (S) RLS TO CALENDAR AND 1 OR 03/22/00
3/22/00 2694 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
3/22/00 2694 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN
CONSENT
3/22/00 2694 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SJR 38
3/22/00 2694 (S) COSPONSOR(S): DONLEY, TAYLOR, MACKIE,
3/22/00 2694 (S) PHILLIPS, PETE KELLY
3/22/00 2695 (S) PASSED Y19 N- A1
3/22/00 2697 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
3/23/00 2661 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
3/23/00 2661 (H) TRA
3/31/00 2820 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): JAMES
4/13/00 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
DAVID GRAY, Staff
to Senator Jerry Mackie
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 427
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 288 on behalf of sponsor.
KARA MORIARTY, Staff
to Senator Gary Wilken
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 514
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 38 on behalf of sponsor.
TERESA FREDRICKSON, Community Resource Coordinator
City of Delta Junction
PO Box 229
Delta Junction, Alaska 99737
POSITION STATEMENT: Announced the City of Delta Junction's support
of SJR 38.
AL KEECH
(Address not provided)
Tok, Alaska 99780
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SJR 38 in relation
to the impact of the rail link on the wildlife and wilderness of
the area.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 00-27, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIRMAN ANDREW HALCRO called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:08 p.m. Members present at the
call to order were Representatives Halcro, Masek, Hudson and
Cowdery. Representatives Kemplen, Kookesh and Kohring arrived as
the meeting was in progress.
SB 288 - APPROVE CLARKE BAY TERMINAL AGREEMENT
CHAIRMAN HALCRO announced the first order of business as Senate
Bill 288, "An Act authorizing the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities to enter into an agreement with the Inter-Island
Ferry Authority regarding the operation of the Clarke Bay Terminal,
Prince of Wales Island."
Number 0045
DAVID GRAY, Staff to Senator Jerry Mackie, Alaska State
Legislature, came before the committee to present SB 288 on behalf
of the sponsor. Clark Bay, he explained, is where the Hollis ferry
terminal for the Alaska Marine Highway System is located. Hollis
is a community on Prince of Wales Island. About four years ago, he
stated, all the communities on the island felt that they would not
be able to get daily ferry service between Ketchikan and Hollis
unless they took action into their own hands. As a result, they
created a municipal port authority [Inter-Island Ferry Authority],
an action that is authorized in state law. The authority has also
secured funding from federal sources and has committed some of
their own funding from municipal revenue bonds. The first ferry is
due for bid this spring, and is expected to be completed by June of
next year. The authority expects service to begin next summer. AS
29.35.722(2) indicates that any agreement such as this requires
legislative approval, which is exactly what SB 288 provides for.
Mr. Gray lastly stated that the bill comes with a "friendly" fiscal
note; it would save the state some money.
Number 0227
REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON asked Mr. Gray whether it's correct to
say that the new ferry would operate out of the Hollis terminal,
and therefore the operation of the ferries would be transferred
from the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to the
Inter-Island Ferry Authority.
MR. GRAY replied the Inter-Island Ferry Authority would be making
improvements to the Hollis terminal in order to dock a new ferry.
The authority would also construct new terminal facilities. There
would be a quid-pro-quo type of exchange in that - at times - the
Alaska Marine Highway System would be selling tickets and tying
ferries.
Number 0346
CHAIRMAN HALCRO closed the meeting to public testimony.
Number 0352
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON indicated that this feels like deja vu in
that when he was director of the Alaska Marine Highway System he
flew to Hollis to look into this very issue.
Number 0383
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON made a motion to move SB 288, version
1-LS1524\A, out of committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note. There being no objection, SB 288 so moved
from the House Transportation Standing Committee.
CHAIRMAN HALCRO called for a brief at-ease then called the meeting
back to order.
SJR 38 - ALASKA CANADA RAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY
CHAIRMAN HALCRO announced the next order of business as Senate
Joint Resolution 38, Expressing support for a cooperative United
States-Canada feasibility study on extending the North American
rail system through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to
Alaska.
Number 0421
KARA MORIARTY, Staff to Senator Gary Wilken, Alaska State
Legislature, came before the committee to present SJR 38 on behalf
of the sponsor. The resolution is a companion of HJR 51 by
Representative Jeannette James. She noted that U.S. Senator Frank
Murkowski recently introduced legislation in Congress [S. 2253]
that would fund and authorize a commission made up of U.S. and
Canadian officials to conduct a feasibility study that would
determine the best route, identify markers, and estimate the cost
for a project that would connect the North American rail system
through Canada to Alaska. Senate Joint Resolution 38, therefore,
would send a message of support of the feasibility study from the
legislature.
CHAIRMAN HALCRO pointed out that the booklet entitled,
"Alaska-Canada Rail Link Conference Packet," found in the bill
packet, was provided and put together by Representative Jeannette
James' office.
Number 0520
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COWDERY asked Ms. Moriarty whether the track
width is the same in both the U.S. and Canada.
MS. MORIARTY replied, according to her understanding, the tracks
are compatible. She further noted that when U.S. and Canadian
officials met at the Alaska-Canada Rail Link Conference they looked
at issues like that.
Number 0566
TERESA FREDRICKSON, Community Resource Coordinator, City of Delta
Junction, testified via teleconference from Delta Junction. She
announced the city's support of the resolution.
Number 0594
AL KEECH testified via teleconference from Tok. He has been a
resident of Tok for approximately 20 years. He is not keen on the
idea that is being proposed. He doesn't doubt that there would be
a positive economic effect on the area; at the same time, there
would be a dramatic negative effect on the wildlife and the
wilderness atmosphere. Progress, he said, changes a rural
atmosphere in that more demands are placed on a limited amount of
wildlife. That, he said, would have a detrimental effect on the
wildlife population and its habitat. The worst possible impact
would be a railroad that doesn't follow the highway corridor, as a
map that he has seen indicates. He has seen a proposal for a track
that runs to Tok then cutoffs through either the Ladue River valley
or the Dennison [Fork] valley, which would take a "swap out of
virgin land" in Game Management Unit 20E. A railroad would change
the balance of nature for as long as it is present and probably
afterwards. A railroad would also change the rural and subsistence
lifestyle of those in the area. Furthermore, the majority of the
people don't even know that the railroad is being proposed. He
read somewhere that there is grassroots support for such a
railroad, but he doubts that, given the local residents. It's
probably more a function of those who are communicative in the
chamber of commerce and local businesses who are perhaps more
knowledgeable. He really doubts that a lot of the rural residents
are aware of the proposal. In summary, even though he is
testifying today on his own behalf, he is probably representing
quite a few other residents of Interior Alaska that would be
adamantly opposed to a railroad that would follow any other
corridor except the highway corridor.
Number 0844
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY stated that he has been in Alaska for 50
years. When he first came to the state the highway was pretty
rough, and when he got to Tok he started to like the state better.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY further stated that development is like
children, especially grandchildren, in that a person wishes they
could stay at a certain age forever. But a person can't stop a
child from growing; at the same time, a person can't stop progress.
In that regard, he likes Alaska better now than when he first came,
and there has been a lot of good development since that time. He
noted that the railroad is another way to ensure the benefit of
commerce, which does a lot for everyone.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY further stated that he has been on a train
in the back country of Australia and saw kangaroos beside the
track. It's pretty nice, he said, to wake up and see the animals
in the morning. He thinks that this could be done in an
environmentally sound way. He supports the concept.
Number 0977
MR. KEECH stated it's hard to argue against progress or economics
because it would benefit the people of the area. But, as the
country moved west and as progress moved west, what happened? The
rural atmosphere was sacrificed. He doesn't think that his "one
voice" in the wilderness would have an impact on stopping the
railroad; he's asking, therefore, that it be done in a fashion that
has the least impact as possible. The best way, he suggested,
would be to stay on the highway corridor rather than to interrupt
pristine country.
Number 1062
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON stated, to Mr. Keech, that the resolution is
simply a proposal for a comprehensive feasibility study that would
look at the economical, environmental and societal consequences of
such a rail link. Many of his concerns, therefore, would be
addressed in that study. He thinks, therefore, that Mr. Keech
should really support the resolution, for it would provide
everybody with an understanding of the possible implications.
Number 1113
REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK asked Ms. Moriarty whether the
bilateral commission would cost the state any money or whether it
would all be funded by the federal government.
MS. MORIARTY replied the plan is for the bilateral commission to be
funded by the federal government.
Number 1184
CHAIRMAN HALCRO closed the meeting to public testimony.
Number 1189
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move SJR 38, version
1-LS1475/A, out of committee with individual recommendations and
attached zero fiscal note; he asked unanimous consent. There being
no objection, SJR 38 so moved from the House Transportation
Standing Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, Chairman
Halcro adjourned the House Transportation Standing Committee
meeting at 1:26 p.m.
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