Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/03/2003 01:32 PM House TRA
| Audio | Topic |
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 3, 2003
1:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jim Holm, Co-Chair
Representative Beverly Masek, Co-Chair
Representative Hugh Fate
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Dan Ogg
Representative Mary Kapsner
Representative Albert Kookesh
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 213
"An Act relating to a provisional driver's license and to
issuance of a driver's license; and providing for an effective
date."
- HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 83
"An Act naming the Sven Haakanson, Sr. Airport at Old Harbor."
- MOVED SB 83 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 71(TRA)
"An Act relating to funding for transportation projects; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 213
SHORT TITLE:PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)WEYHRAUCH
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
03/26/03 0640 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
03/26/03 0640 (H) TRA, L&C
03/26/03 0640 (H) REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
04/01/03 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
04/01/03 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(TRA)
04/03/03 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: SB 83
SHORT TITLE:SVEN HAAKANSON AIRPORT AT OLD HARBOR
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) STEVENS G
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/26/03 0274 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/26/03 0274 (S) TRA, STA
03/04/03 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/04/03 (S) Moved Out of Committee
MINUTE(TRA)
03/05/03 0354 (S) TRA RPT 4DP
03/05/03 0354 (S) DP: COWDERY, OLSON,
THERRIAULT,
03/05/03 0354 (S) LINCOLN
03/05/03 0354 (S) FN1: ZERO(DOT)
03/13/03 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
03/13/03 (S) Moved Out of Committee
MINUTE(STA)
03/17/03 0513 (S) STA RPT 4DP
03/17/03 0513 (S) DP: STEVENS G, HOFFMAN,
DYSON, COWDERY
03/17/03 0514 (S) FN1: ZERO(DOT)
03/17/03 0534 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/18/2003
03/18/03 0534 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
03/18/03 0534 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
UNAN CONSENT
03/18/03 0534 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 83
03/18/03 0535 (S) PASSED Y18 N- E1 A1
03/18/03 0539 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/18/03 0539 (S) VERSION: SB 83
03/19/03 0576 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
03/19/03 0576 (H) TRA, STA
03/19/03 0597 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): LYNN
03/31/03 0722 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): OGG
04/01/03 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
04/01/03 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
04/03/03 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: SB 71
SHORT TITLE:TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) STEVENS B
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/18/03 0204 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/18/03 0204 (S) TRA, FIN
02/27/03 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/27/03 (S) Moved CSSB 71(TRA) Out of
Committee
MINUTE(TRA)
02/28/03 0295 (S) TRA RPT CS 3DP 1NR 1AM NEW
TITLE
02/28/03 0295 (S) DP: COWDERY, OLSON, WAGONER;
02/28/03 0295 (S) NR: THERRIAULT; AM: LINCOLN
02/28/03 0295 (S) FN1: ZERO(DOT)
03/11/03 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE
532
03/11/03 (S) Moved CSSB 71(TRA) Out of
Committee
MINUTE(FIN)
03/12/03 0467 (S) FIN RPT CS(TRA) 2DP 5NR
03/12/03 0467 (S) DP: WILKEN, STEVENS B; NR:
GREEN,
03/12/03 0467 (S) TAYLOR, HOFFMAN, OLSON, BUNDE
03/12/03 0467 (S) FN1: ZERO(DOT)
03/13/03 0491 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/13/2003
03/13/03 0491 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
03/13/03 0492 (S) TRA CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
03/13/03 0492 (S) ADVANCE TO 3RD READING FAILED
Y12 N7 E1
03/13/03 0492 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
3/17 CALENDAR
03/17/03 0519 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB
71(TRA)
03/17/03 0519 (S) PASSED Y11 N7 E2
03/17/03 0519 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y18
N- E2
03/17/03 0519 (S) LINCOLN NOTICE OF
RECONSIDERATION
03/18/03 0539 (S) RECONSIDERATION NOT TAKEN UP
03/18/03 0539 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/18/03 0539 (S) VERSION: CSSB 71(TRA)
03/19/03 0576 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
03/19/03 0576 (H) TRA
03/19/03 0576 (H) REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
03/19/03 0596 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): LYNN
03/20/03 0603 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S):ROKEBERG#1,
STOLTZE#2
04/01/03 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
04/01/03 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
04/02/03 0748 (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER TRA
04/03/03 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
LINDA SYLVESTER, Staff
to Representative Bruce Weyhrauch
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the proposed committee substitute
for HB 213 on behalf of Representative Weyhrauch, the bill's
sponsor.
DOUG LETCH, Staff
to Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sponsor statement for SB 83
on behalf of the sponsor, Senator Gary Stevens.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor of SB 71, testified on the bill
and answered questions from the members.
JEFF OTTESEN, Acting Director
Division of Statewide Planning
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 71 and answered questions
from the members.
COLLEEN NORMAN
Alaska Conservation Voters
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 71.
NANCY WATERMAN
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 71.
BILL LEIGHTY
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 71 and
answered questions from the members.
LAUREN ATTANAS
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 71.
JAMES ARMSTRONG, AMATS Coordinator
Municipality of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 71.
HEATHER GOTT
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 71.
JAMES KING
Trail Mix, Inc.
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 71.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-15, SIDE A
Number 0001
CO-CHAIR BEVERLY MASEK called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. Representatives Masek,
Holm, Fate, Ogg, and Kookesh were present at the call to order.
Representatives Kohring and Kapsner arrived as the meeting was
in progress.
HB 213-PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE
CO-CHAIR MASEK announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 213, "An Act relating to a provisional
driver's license and to issuance of a driver's license; and
providing for an effective date."
Number 0072
CO-CHAIR MASEK told the members she has serious reservations
about this is kind of legislation. She said current Alaska law
allows teens to obtain a learner's [permit] at the age of 14.
That gives a teen up to two years to learn how to drive before
turning 16 years old, when he/she can obtain a license with
parental consent. She said many teens do not obtain a license
[permit] until they reach the age of 16 and are required to have
a learner's [permit] for at least six months. She said that
those existing provisions of law take care of the graduated
criteria that this bill's sponsor is trying to establish. Co-
Chair Masek said that this bill simply does not make any sense
to her. She said the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) study and statistics that the sponsor
featured to justify the implementation of this bill cite three
reasons for a large number of accidents for this age group.
Those factors that work together to cause a high number of
accidents among teens are inexperience, risk-taking behavior,
and immaturity.
CO-CHAIR MASEK told the members that she believes there are only
four [changes] worthy of considerations in amending current law
related to teen drivers. She offered the following suggestions:
[change] the age at which a student can get a learner's [permit]
to 16 years old, change it so the permit is for one year rather
than for six months, require driver's education classes for
youths under 18 years old, and prohibit teen driving between the
hours of midnight and 6 a.m. She also recommended revoking a
driver's license for speeding or reckless endangerment. Co-
Chair Masek said if there is a comparison between Alaska and the
other states, it is not relevant in the rural areas where a lot
of youths have to travel quite far to a job and do not have
public transportation. It would be a huge burden on the parents
to assume the role of getting kids to work, she said.
Number 0358
REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH noted that one of the core components of
the graduated license in most states is that youths [who have a
provisional license] may not carry a person under the age of 21
years old [unless it is a parent or legal guardian]. He asked
why the age requirement of 25 years old is used in this
legislation.
Number 0380
LINDA SYLVESTER, Staff to Representative Bruce Weyhrauch, Alaska
State Legislature, presented a proposed committee substitute for
HB 213 [unspecified version] on behalf of Representative
Weyhrauch, the bill's sponsor. She told the committee the
rationale for increasing the age from 21 to 25 years of age is
that a person who is 21 years old is closer in age to a 16- or
17-year-old. It was decided that 25 years of age is really
another age group.
REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH stated that the sponsor is relying on
data that is being presented from other states, and has adopted
language that is almost verbatim from other state's [graduated
driver's license] law, with the exception of changing the 21-
year-old to 25-year-old passenger language. He told the
committee he does not understand the rationale and is
uncomfortable with this change.
MS. SYLVESTER replied that the idea behind selecting the age of
25 is to assure that a passenger in a car with a novice driver
is someone akin to a parent. The idea is to have someone
removed from the peer group who is a young adult. Ms. Sylvester
said that this language would assure the greatest safety, but
the sponsor is willing to consider a change in the age. She
added that the [25-year-old] age requirement is part of
Washington State's law.
Number 0538
REPRESENTATIVE FATE shared that he has raised four children who
have all gone through the era of "inability to make a judgment."
He said he fears this legislation will criminalize every 16-
year-old who has a provisional license, because there probably
is not a single 16-year-old who at some time or another have an
[underage] passenger in the car in the first six months.
Representative Fate said he believes that some of this language
is too draconian. He told the committee if the state were to
offer really good driver's education, he said he believes a 16-
year-old could be responsible behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Representative Fate summarized his comments by saying he has
real concern about this bill.
Number 0653
CO-CHAIR MASEK announced that HB 213 will be held in committee,
and a subcommittee may be appointed to work on the bill prior to
the next hearing.
SB 83-SVEN HAAKANSON AIRPORT AT OLD HARBOR
CO-CHAIR MASEK announced that the next order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 83, "An Act naming the Sven Haakanson, Sr.
Airport at Old Harbor."
Number 0708
DOUG LETCH, Staff to Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, presented the sponsor statement for SB 83 on behalf
of Senator Gary Stevens, the bill's sponsor. He provided the
following testimony:
SB 83 is a bill that will name the state airport at
Old Harbor, which is in Kodiak Island, in honor of
Sven Haakanson, Sr. He passed away November 23rd of
last year.
Sven was a lifelong resident of Old Harbor and served
as the community's mayor for 27 years. I may be
wrong, but I think that may be a record for tenure for
mayor in Alaska. He also played an integral part in
the community's public works and lobbied diligently
for the airport's construction. He was well known on
Kodiak Island and around Alaska, played a vital role
in establishing corporations and associations that
have become familiar and important in Alaska's
corporate and nonprofit world.
He was one of the founders of the Kodiak Area Native
Association (KANA), Koniag, Inc., and served on the
boards of several corporations and organizations on
Kodiak Island. Just this past year 2002, Sven was
named the elder of the year by the Koniag Native
Corporation.
Number 0795
As you can see in your bill packet, SB 83 is supported
by the residents of Old Harbor, endorsed by the city
council, the Old Harbor Tribal Council, and Koniag,
Inc. Just the other day we also received a letter of
support from Ouzinkie which I wasn't able to get into
your packets at this time.
It is widely supported amongst residents of Kodiak
Island and this bill, if passed, will recognize a man
who gave so much of his time and energy to the
community, and will ensure that Sven Haakanson, Sr.'s
memory will live on for generations to come.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE asked if anything else has been named after
Sven Haakanson, Sr.
MR. LETCH replied that at this time, the community of Old Harbor
had not named anything else after Sven Haakanson, Sr., but noted
that there had been a legislative citation earlier in the
session when Senator Gary Stevens had been a Representative.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE noted that support for naming the airport
had been heard, and asked if there were any groups or
individuals that were against the proposed naming.
MR. LETCH responded that to his knowledge there had not been any
objection to this naming.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE added that in the past, he had named
something precipitously and had to withdraw his support after he
found out that certain things did not happen that he had been
led to believe were the case.
Number 0903
CO-CHAIR HOLM referred to a scenario such as a pilot approaching
the airport under adverse circumstances from Seattle, for
example, and not knowing where the airport is nor having any
idea who Sven Haakanson was. He suggested that the pilot would
be looking for the airport, and in poor conditions, he/she would
be more in need of being oriented to coordinates and correct
location than worrying about the name of the airport. He added
that he has heard it is better to have a small name for an
airport than a large name. He directed his concern for making
an appropriately safe choice regarding naming an airport to
Representative Fate because of his experience as a pilot.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE reflected that the concern does not have
much weight with pilots because before heading for an airport,
the pilot knows, or certainly should know, the destination. He
added that pilots use charts and usually, in a small community,
there is only one airport. He said he thought that the issue
might apply more to a layperson - one who does not pilot a
plane.
REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH commented that credibility should be
acknowledged when the local organizations, groups, and
populations in the district offer support. He highlighted the
importance of giving recognition to their choice for the name,
whether the name has six or three syllables.
REPRESENTATIVE OGG said that he knew Sven Haakanson, Sr. for
quite a while. He said Sven Haakanson, Sr. was mayor of Old
Harbor while he was mayor of Kodiak Island Borough.
Representative Ogg said they had fished competitively - adding
that Mr. Haakanson was probably better, at times. He recalled
that when he first arrived in Kodiak, Mr. Haakanson was on the
Kodiak Island Borough assembly. He said that at that time, the
state had set up a mechanism whereby the city would have two
people on the assembly, and three people would be elected at-
large. The two people from the city were appointed by the city
council, and when handling budgetary matters, they had four
votes - with an extra vote per person.
Number 1159
REPRESENTATIVE OGG told the members that he believed it was in
1974 or 1975 when the budget came up [for review] and Sven
Haakanson, who was chair of the assembly, made a ruling that
resulted in a lawsuit by the City of Kodiak against Kodiak
Island Borough, the repercussions of which continue until today.
Representative Ogg said the ruling has had an impact on
government because people are no longer appointed to elected
bodies in Kodiak, and perhaps not in the rest of the state as
well. He highlighted that Sven Haakanson, Sr. was a great
advocate for democracy.
REPRESENTATIVE OGG said he feels that Mr. Haakanson was a "swell
person" with a great sense of humor. He has a wonderful family
and if he had been alive today, he would have seen his grandson
who was born perhaps two weeks ago to his son, Sven Haakanson,
Jr. Representative Ogg said he agreed with Representative
Kookesh's suggestion that people should not be penalized for the
amount of syllables in their names, pointing out that there has
not been a problem in naming airports "La Guardia, Kennedy, et
cetera." He urged the committee to honor Sven Haakanson, Sr.,
who gave so much to the state and served his community.
MR. LETCH said that similar concerns have been brought up at
hearings in the other body. He said Sven Haakanson Sr., and
Sven Haakanson Jr. are in a National Geographic video called,
"The Giant Bears of Kodiak Island." He added that Sven
Haakanson Jr. is the curator of the Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak,
and although he never had the opportunity to meet Sven
Haakanson, Sr., he believes he was a wonderful person from all
of the accounts that he has heard.
Number 1265
REPRESENTATIVE FATE moved to report SB 83 out of committee with
individual recommendations [and the accompanying fiscal note.]
There being no objection, SB 83 was reported from the House
Transportation Standing Committee.
SB 71-TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS
CO-CHAIR MASEK announced that the final order of business would
be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 71(TRA), "An Act relating to funding
for transportation projects; and providing for an effective
date."
Number 1320
The committee took a brief at-ease from 2:00 to 2:01.
Number 1331
SENATOR BEN STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor of SB
71, testified on the bill and answered questions from the
members. He told the committee that this bill does three
things. Section 1(a) reduces the funding from the TRAAK [Trails
and Recreation Access for Alaska] program from 8 percent to 4
percent. He asked the members to look at the spreadsheet that
is titled "Comparison of Minimum TE Expenditures Required Under
Federal Law," which shows the last six years of TRAAK funding.
He said the first column, labeled "TE Apportionment," shows the
federal requirement of 10 percent of all surface transportation
program monies. The column labeled "TE+Match" is the amount
plus what the state provides. He said it is the minimum
required under TEA-21 [Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century]. Senator Stevens pointed out that amount is over $43
million over last six years. In addition to that amount, the
state has spent over $150 million, he said. Senator Stevens
explained that this bill would put in statute the requirement
that the state would reduce funding down to 4 percent, which
would still be above the amount required by federal law.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS explained that Section [1(b)] of the bill
takes that 4 percent and steers it back into the community
transportation program. He asked the members to turn to the pie
chart [titled Distribution of Federal-Aid Transportation Formula
Funds Per 17 AAC 05.155-200]. Senator Stevens said the CTP
(Community Transportation Program) is made up of TRAKK plus 33
percent of the CTP, and all that money goes to AMATS (Anchorage
Metropolitan Area Transportation Study), FMATS (Fairbanks
Metropolitan Area Transportation Study), and all other state and
local road projects which are non-restricted. Senator Stevens
explained that what Subsection (b) says is that 4 percent steers
back to the CTP, but it does not change the overall amount going
to the CTP. In other words, he said, the statewide CTP now goes
to 37 percent, and TRAKK goes down to 4 percent.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS told the committee Section [1 Subsection
(c)] relates to the other spreadsheet titled "Comparison of the
Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS)
Enhancements Allocation at 10% and 15%". He explained that the
top portion of the spreadsheet from 2000 through 2003 shows the
total AMATS allocation from the STIP [Statewide Transportation
Improvement Program] for Anchorage's share of the CTP. The
column labeled "Actual" is the amount of money that was actually
spent on the trails and enhancement program by AMATS.
Currently, AMATS has a program that says 15 percent of all AMATS
funding will go to transportation enhancements which includes
pedestrians, landscaping, trails, interpretive waysides, and
pullout, et cetera.
Number 1566
SENATOR BEN STEVENS pointed out that actually more money was
spent because of an anomaly on the beginning of the Ship Creek
Trail. He told the committee that an important part to
understand about [Section 1, Subsection (c)] this bill is the
difference between [2000] to [2003] then to the next one [2004]
to [2006]. AMATS does a three-year plan, just as the state does
with the STIP. It is important to consider that the AMATS share
of the CTP has increased from 22 percent to 28 percent. In
[2003] Anchorage got $42 million, but as a result of the change
in [2004] Anchorage will get $56 million. This bill will
provide that $56 million at 15 percent would be $8.4 million, or
10 percent would be $5.6 million, which is similar to the
previously planned 15 percent. Senator Stevens told the
committee if they look at the long-term average over the next
three years of the program versus the last four years of the
program, the spending remains constant. He said it is his
position and that of the other body that passed this bill that
Anchorage faces a lot challenges, as do other areas of the
state, with road needs and increased congestion. One of the
ways to help alleviate some of these problems is to give an
increase in the amount of money and use it to address the
problems related to roads. This would still maintain adequate
funding to build new trails. He told the members the trails in
Anchorage have been built with the same amount of money in the
past and there is nothing to say this will not be adequate
funding in the future to continue the construct of new trails.
This money cannot be used for maintenance, he stated.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS commented that the National Recreational
Trails Federation Program is in the state's capital budget for
increased trails construction throughout the state. He told the
members that the reason he included the capital requests in the
appropriations bill is to show the members that there are other
areas of funding that come forward to build recreational trails
throughout the state. For instance, he referred to number 6854,
where there is a request from the Department of Natural
Resources for $695,000 for recreational trail, trailhead
development, and maintenance. Number 32552 is a request for
$675,000 for the acquisition and/or development of outdoor
recreation areas and facilities such as soccer fields,
campgrounds, tennis courts, boat launches, hiking trails, picnic
areas, et cetera. Senator Stevens stated that this request has
been funded since 1994. The previous request has been funded
consistently for $600,000 to $700,000.
Number 1722
SENATOR BEN STEVENS pointed out that the National Park Service
also spends money on trails in Alaska. He summarized his
comments by saying there are many avenues to fund trails and it
is his position that it is important to take the $13 million
from the TRAKK program and put it back in the STIP for
communities to help address some of the backlog on construction
projects for roads. He noted that there is a $3.1 billion
backlog for roads and an estimated $300 million for trails,
which is a 10-to-1 ratio. Senator Stevens told the members he
believes this will help to address some of the problems facing
communities.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE commented that Senator Ben Stevens said the
state is still above the percentage of the required federal
matching formula. He asked if it is possible to increase the
percentage to communities, since there are other sources of
funding for trails.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS responded that he had a difficult time
determining how much the state was spending to meet the federal
requirement. The reason it was difficult is that each project
approved under the STIP has built into it funds for pedestrian,
wayside trails, landscaping, et cetera. Senator Stevens said
that he has been unable to get a finite number on how much the
state is spending on it. He said he probably could have come up
with a higher percentage, but also believes that the TRAKK
program is a good program and has done a great job. However, as
the members can see the amount of money has gone out of control
and needs parameters.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE clarified his question by asking if there
could be more funds going to communities for roads, because the
trails program has other funding sources.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS explained that the other funding sources is
like mixing apples and oranges. These funds are for trails in
recreational areas, but they are not under the surface
transportation program that comes from the national highway
funds.
Number 1872
CO-CHAIR HOLM noted that Senator Ben Stevens did not have any
numbers for the FMATS; however, there are percentages in the
breakout [document labeled "Distribution of Federal-Aid
Transportation Formula Funds Per 17 AAC 05.155.200"] where it
shows 27.8 percent for AMATS and 10.5 percent for FMATS. He
asked if he is to conclude that if the $56 million for 2004
would be 27.8 percent, then, if he used the 10.5 percent figure
then he could determine what FMATS would get.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS replied that FMATS is not off and running
yet, but under the forward STIP that is the FMATS share.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER told the members she is concerned about
the rural [areas of the state]. She explained that in her
district there are no roads between communities, but in the
winter villagers will stakeout trails for snow machine use so
people do not get lost. The TRAKK system does help the
communities fund this program and wonders if there is any
protection for trail markers.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS pointed out that originally the TRAKK
program was for small trail projects according to the intent in
the administrative order that established the program. The
first TRAKK program was a concept developed by Governor Hickel
and then evolved in the next administration into the TRAKK
program that the state has now. He said his personal opinion is
that the program diverted further to become part of highway
projects and the projects evolved, became bigger, and became
mega-projects. He explained that instead of having $400,000 to
$800,000 projects for rural roads areas it became $6 or $7
million projects for building interpretive viewing facilities on
the Seward Highway. This concept has become difficult to
comprehend, so this legislation is intended to bring it back to
what it was intended for, which is trails and winter access.
Senator Stevens said he would like to see the bike trails,
landscaping, viewing areas, et cetera to remain a part of
highway projects. He stated that is the intent of this bill.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked Senator Stevens if he would be
comfortable stating this in his bill.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS responded that language is already in the
administrative order. He pointed out that there is no statute
revolving around TRAKK, the state is just directing funds for
the program. The TRAKK regulations were established by
administrative order not by statute.
Number 2030
JEFF OTTESEN, Acting Director, Division of Statewide Planning,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, testified on
SB 71 and answered questions from the members. He asked the
members to look at the copy of a PowerPoint presentation in the
bill packet.
CO-CHAIR MASEK asked Mr. Ottesen to address the issues discussed
in the meeting.
MR. OTTESEN referred to the comments on the winter trail
[markers]. He told the members that there has been a debate
over the last few years in the department as to whether the
winter trails are properly part of the TRAKK program or part of
the highway program. He said that they have been included in
both and have bounced back and forth between the two. Mr.
Ottesen said that he checked with the Federal Highway
Administration, after the same question came up in the Senate
Finance Committee. He found that a winter trail in Alaska is
being used as a road and more importantly it is being used by
motorized transportation, and as such it needs to be in the
highway program. The TRAKK program funding is not eligible for
trails that are used by motorized vehicles under federal law.
Mr. Ottesen said that the change in pushing the STIP from 33
percent to 37 percent would make more money available for winter
trails as well as for all other road needs. He said winter
trails are used to go between villages for a variety of reasons
including shopping, medical services, or to visit family. The
trails function as a road. Mr. Ottesen told the members that he
has traveled to the villages in the winter and when villagers
use the trails, it is the equivalent of an urban resident going
to Costco in their pickup truck. He said the trail is used for
services, not recreation.
Number 2109
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER told the members that if the funds are
competitive, the [villages] will not be able to compete for the
highway funds because people in the urban areas think of
snowmobiles as recreational vehicles. She reiterated that she
would like to see a preference or scoring boost for the winter
trails for intercommunity travel.
MR. OTTESEN responded that the department has funded six winter
trail projects since 1996, almost one per year, and there is
another one scheduled to be done this year. He told the members
that the department will look at the scoring criteria to make
sure the rural areas do not fall through the cracks, but given
the importance [rural trails] play, and as the department has
been doing the area plans around the state, the villages are
telling the department that these trails are their highest
priority. These [trail markers] are saving lives and making
winter travel possible in bad conditions, and bringing people
home when they might have otherwise perished on the trail. Mr.
Ottesen said that in every respect of the word, this is an
important part of their transportation system.
MR. OTTESEN summarized his comments by saying that the
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities had already
recognized that the TRAKK program had grown out of control. In
late December of last year, the department started looking for
ways to shrink it and in STIP amendment 17, which was put out
the third week in January, the department tried to drop it by
$10 million, but one job was ready for bid, so it was actually
reduced by $8 million. Mr. Ottesen told the members that the
department agrees with the figures in this bill, and pointed out
that this program at the 4 percent level would still be larger
than the federal minimum by almost double. He assured the
members that the TRAKK program is not going away, but it is a
matter of the right funding level with respect to all other
needs.
Number 2372
COLLEEN NORMAN, Alaska Conservation Voters, testified in
opposition to SB 71. She told the members that Alaska
Conservation Voters is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
protecting Alaska's environment through public education and
advocacy. The 34 member organizations represent 35,000
registered Alaska voters. All of those voters use projects that
have been funded by the TRAKK program. To keep this funding in
place for Alaskans, she asked the members to oppose SB 71. Ms.
Norman commented that the department does feel that TRAKK
funding is out of control; however, it is important to note that
there has already been a funding cut this year. She said
putting a 4 percent cap on funding will impede healthy
infrastructure development in every district. Ms. Norman said
that there will be competition for rural areas to obtain funding
for trails if those funds go into highway funds. She said
recreation supports a healthy lifestyle for all Alaskans. She
asked where the funds will come from to maintain new roads that
will be built if these funds are diverted to highways.
MS. NORMAN closed her comments by saying that many of the TRAKK
projects help to encourage the economy with respect to the
tourism industry. Ms. Norman wanted the members to look at
Subsection [c] where it limits what municipalities can spend on
transportation enhancement projects. By limiting the funding to
10 percent it does not allow the municipalities to decide what
is most important to them. She said some of the projects that
may be cut are Farmer's Loop, Chena Hot Springs all season trail
connection, pathway connection along the Iditarod Trail up Crow
Creek to Crow Pass, Sterling Highway beach access for
beachcombing, clam digging, and commercial fishing, trails and
trailheads in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, pedestrian walkway
from the airport to the high school trail in Bethel, et cetera.
TAPE 03-15, SIDE B
Number 2372
NANCY WATERMAN testified in opposition to SB 71. She told the
members that she became involved in transportation decisions in
Juneau in about 1991 when "ISTEA" [Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act] was passed and she realized that
an individual could participate in some of the decisionmaking,
especially at the community level. She told the members that
she thinks this is an unnecessary layer of legislation and that
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities has planning
processes including a 20-year plan and fiscally constrained
state transportation plan that manages federal aid highway
dollars. The public process is included and allows for
community influence in community, regional, and state decision-
making. Ms. Waterman said that caps on TRAKK mentioned in
Subsection (a) and transportation enhancements in Subsection (c)
are unnecessarily restrictive, and, therefore, she asked the
committee not to pass this bill. She said that Mr. Ottesen
already spoke to the administrative decision making that is
already managing Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities funding to parallel the velocity of citizens and the
administration.
Number 2311
BILL LEIGHTY testified in opposition to HB 71 and answered
questions from the members. He told the members he is a 30-year
resident and small business owner in Juneau. He told the
members that he is interested in community design,
transportation, and the energy and security implications of how
communities are designed. He said in contemplating any bill it
is important to look at what the sponsor is trying to accomplish
and, in this case, whether the bill will help or hinder it.
MR. LEIGHTY said that in the case of achieving community
security, he would read a few words by author Jane Jacobs, as
follows:
The problem of insecurity cannot be solved by
spreading people out more thinly. There must be eyes
upon the street; eyes belonging to those we might call
the natural proprietors of the street.
MR. LEIGHTY commented that the analogy here of the street is
actually the trails. If the objective of this bill might be to
restrict the funding for trail building, with the idea that may
keep undesirable people out of the neighborhoods, the opposite
effect will happen. He said he believes it is important to have
people of all kinds coming through our neighborhoods, whether it
is an urban neighborhood in splendid isolation on the hillside
or a small community, in order for there to be that interchange
of contact. Mr. Leighty summarized by saying if that is one of
the motives of the bill, it will probably have the opposite
effect.
MR. LEIGHTY added that funds in the TRAKK program give Alaskan
very good security value for the money invested; moving the
funds into road building projects, which tend to be very
expensive, will encourage people to drive more, and will burn
more fuel, decrease our security, and cause us to be in more
isolation from each other. Finally, he said that it is not a
good idea to be meddling unnecessarily at the state level in
community decisions. He suggested the members not pass the bill
because it may have the opposite effect of the author's intent.
Number 2205
REPRESENTATIVE FATE asked Mr. Leighty how overspending can
jeopardize the security of anything. Would not security be
looked at when the funds are allocated?
MR. LEIGHTY responded that what he thinks is being discussed is
the reallocation of resources from a limited pie, the federal
funding that can either go into TRAKK or be diverted into more
road building priorities for the Anchorage area. It is not the
size of the pie that is being discussed, but the allocation
within the pie and the ability of the locality to have that
decision-making power.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE replied that the size of the pie does have
something to do with it because Mr. Leighty is talking about
security. What happened is that TRAKK allocated enough money to
get the job done, but then found that more was being spent than
was projected. Representative Fate stated that he does not see
how this bill will jeopardize anything, including the people
along the trail or the trail itself.
MR. LEIGHTY commented that he wanted to make the point that for
community security and national and global security, it is
important that people encounter each other in the lowest cost
possible, and that might be in building more trails through more
neighborhoods to interconnect people at a more human social
level.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE responded that Mr. Leighty's philosophy is
one that could be debated a long time.
Number 2136
LAUREN ATTANAS testified in opposition to SB 71. She told the
members that she believes she speaks for many people who live in
Fairbanks who do not want their municipal allocation controlled
by the state. She quoted Representative Kohring as saying "big
tentacles of government interfering where they shouldn't have."
She said she thinks if SB 71 is passed, it could characterized
as Representative Kohring said. She said that she could not
speak to the issues in Anchorage, since she is not from that
area, but she told the members that she has great confidence in
FMATS in determining its own spending priorities. Fairbanks
would be impacted by this bill because TRAKKS has provided funds
for quite an array of projects in the area including: a 48-mile
snow machine trail that runs out near Chena Hot Springs;
Creamer's Field Waterfowl Migratory Refuge [where she serves as
a volunteer naturalist] which is used by the whole community
from school children to tourists; Birch Hill Ski Area, which was
just improved this year and was the site of the Junior Olympics,
and the wood bridge that is being built over the Chena River
downtown. Ms. Attanas said she looked at the draft STIP for FY
04 through FY 09 and concluded that Fairbanks will be hit very
hard by the passage of this legislation. She said she found at
least 8 proposed projects in Fairbanks that are in danger of
losing funding including a trail that connects Farmer's Loop to
Chena Hot Springs Road, renovation of the Nenana steamship, and
sanitary facilities for Farmer's Loop dog mushers. She said
that these are not just window dressing, but part of what makes
Fairbanks home.
MS. ATTANAS asked the members if they do want to usurp power and
control over enhancement projects by local communities.
Hundreds of worthwhile projects have already been funded by
TRAKK' and these improve the quality of life for countless
Alaskans. But because of this bill, hundreds more may be cut or
delayed indefinitely. In closing, Ms. Attanas told the members
that one lane-mile of rural road in Alaska costs about $1.5
million to construct, so ten miles of roads can be constructed
with the money saved by cutting TRAKK funding in half. She
asked if this is really worth it.
The committee took an at-ease from 2:45 p.m. to 2:46 p.m.
[End of Side B. Due to technical difficulties, the following
testimony of James Armstrong was not taped, but was
reconstructed from the recording secretary's log notes.]
JAMES ARMSTRONG, AMATS Coordinator, Municipality of Anchorage,
testified in support of SB 71. Mr. Armstrong asked the members
to review the letter in the bill packet dated March 3, 2003,
from Mayor George Wuerch in support of SB 71.
TAPE 03-16, SIDE A
Number 0088
HEATHER GOTT testified in opposition to SB 71. She told the
members she opposes the bill because it cuts funding to TRAKK
program. She said she does not own a car and uses the bike
trails and paths not only for recreation, but to get around town
on a daily basis. However, because she lives in Anchorage, she
is not nearly as dependent on the trails as many rural residents
of the state, she commented. Across the state in rural areas
that do not have road access villagers depend on snow machine,
subsistence gathering, and dog mushing trails all of which are
past examples of TRAKK's accomplishments, she said. Ms. Gott
said she disagrees with the way SB 71 assumes state control
takes over local power, by taking away the power of local
governments to control the federal transportation money. In
summary, she said, trails and recreation projects are important
to Alaskans, especially in Alaska's special circumstances. It
is totally appropriate for the state to commit more than the
federally mandated minimum for transportation enhancement, she
stated. Ms. Gott urged the members to vote against SB 71 and
maintain a balanced transportation system in Alaska.
Number 0190
JAMES KING, Trail Mix, Inc.("Trail Mix"), testified in
opposition to SB 71. He told the committee that Trail Mix is a
group that works on trails with the state, the U.S. Forest
Service, and the city [City and Borough of Juneau] to help
manage and improve trails. The TRAKK program has been a
wonderful program for Alaska in improving the quality of life
for many residents. The program has also addressed safety
issues by removing barriers for many users and providing
facilities that helps make this state such a wonderful place to
live.
MR. KING mentioned that there was an earlier comment that many
of these projects could be addressed as part of road improvement
projects. He said that in many cases that is not true. For
example, if there is a popular fishing place along a road where
maybe there is a lot of congestion with parking from fishermen,
the roadway may be fine, and therefore, there may be no need for
a road project. However, but the TRAKK program can go in and
pay for a parking facility, so the problem of cars on the
roadway and the necessity of pedestrians walking along the road
will significantly improve a poor safety situation. There are
other examples where kids may be getting to school, other users
may be walking, or biking along a roadway and these types of
TRAKK projects can remove them from the roadway. He explained
that the trail may not exactly parallel the roadway, it may go
off through a neighborhood, it may make some other connection
and therefore, it is not part of a major roadway reconstruction
or construction project. Mr. King pointed out that the TRAKK
funds can catch many of these projects that are not part of road
projects.
MR. KING told the committee he echoes the comment made earlier
that the wisdom of Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities (DOT&PF) and the municipalities that realize that
times are tight and it is time to tighten our belt a little bit
and cut back on these programs at the DOT&PF level. However, it
does not make sense to make a statewide solution to all of this
when DOT&PF has already been making those gestures. Mr. King
said that when times change, and he said he believes they will,
if funding is increased and the backlog of current road projects
are reduced, there may be a desire for the municipalities and
rural communities to decide the priorities themselves. This
type of bill would tie their hands until another bill were to
make it through the process again. Mr. King summarized that
TRAKK has been a wonderful program and has helped to solve a lot
problems and the administration is moving in this direction
anyway, so he does not see a great benefit in creating a bill
that ties the hands of the municipalities and DOT&PF to make
those decisions.
Number 0460
CO-CHAIR MASEK ended testimony on SB 71 and announced that the
bill would held in the House Transportation Standing Committee
until the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:45
p.m.
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