Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/09/1993 05:00 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 9, 1993
5:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Richard Foster, Chair
Representative Gary Davis, Vice-Chair
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Curt Menard
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Eldon Mulder
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jerry Mackie
Representative Curt Menard
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA)
WITNESS REGISTER
Frank G. Turpin, Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801-7898
465-3900
Position Statement: Provided overview for ISTEA briefing
Dale R. Merrell, PE
Vice President
ASCG Incorporated
301 Arctic Slope Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, Alaska 99518-3035
(907)-349-5148
Position Statement: Spoke in favor of contract
administrators for the state and
involvement in work for the Bureau of
Indian Affairs transportation planning.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-3, SIDE A
Number 015
The House Transportation Committee meeting was called to
order at 5:10 p.m.
COMMISSIONER FRANK TURPIN, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND
PUBLIC FACILITIES, began his overview by stating that he
wanted to give the committee a brief understanding of
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA).
COMMISSIONER TURPIN: ISTEA is the federal government's way
of refunding the 14.1 cents per gallon that you pay every
time you buy gasoline. This refund is usually done by a
bill passed by Congress which sets out a five year program.
This year it was set out for six years.
This act is quite different from any experienced before -
the objectives have been greatly expanded. The interstate
system is largely completed. For that reason, the federal
government wanted flexibility in how the surface
transportation funds were used. Previously, the funds were
used largely to complete the interstate system or other
major highways in the country. This year, they are
encouraging the use of the funds on other modes of
transportation. Other modes for Alaska include the Alaska
Marine Highway System, as well as transit or buses, etc.
There is a lot of variety in how you are able to expend the
funds this year.
Another aspect of the bill emphasizes local participation.
The cities under 200,000 population, by ISTEA such as
Anchorage, are given full planning responsibility. The
Department of Transportation (DOT) cannot spend any money in
Anchorage without the Anchorage planning committee deciding
this is desirable and this is the way they want to expend
their funds. ISTEA also dedicates funds for other purposes;
specifically, for enhancement and highways of the highway
system. Enhancement is a word that is not completely
understood and has been interpreted in a lot of different
ways.
Congress was rather specific about enhancement. They
identify ten specific areas where enhancement could be used.
These are things that make highway driving more enjoyable -
scenic overlooks or restoration of historical sites,
beautification of the highway, trails used for
transportation, such as bike trails or anything of that
nature. Ten percent of the ISTEA was set aside for
enhancement, which amounts to about 11 million dollars for
Alaska a year - a substantial amount of money for 6 years.
Safety is the same way, although there has been a lot of new
learning on how to expend those funds. It is the same
amount as for enhancement - approximately 11 million dollars
a year. At first they were restrictive on safety money and
looked at things such as building left turn lanes and
putting in more traffic lights, with perhaps a few railroad
grade crossings. DOT has been successful in getting a few
other useful things allowed for safety for Alaska, such as
markers on the road for night driving and snow. We may be
able to get Congress to consider straightening out curbs if
a high record of accidents had occurred in such a place.
Safety money can not be used for things which your normally
do such as lights at an intersection.
Number 0126
COMMISSIONER TURPIN: Alaska enjoys an even greater
flexibility than the other states. Section 118(F) used to
require that money could only be used on a federal aid
system, an effective system built with federal funds.
Section 118(F) deleted [on a federal aid system], which in
effect, according to a ruling by the Federal Highway
Administration legal staff is that we can spend the money on
any public road in Alaska. More flexibility allows us to
build a road of any standard that meets its purpose.
The State of Alaska is not limited to building roads either.
If a trail would do the job, that is perfectly all right,
especially between villages. The money can be stretched
pretty far using money to build trails that would handle
such things as four wheelers.
The Borough Transportation Plan (BTP) was developed to
achieve the local participation to satisfy local needs, not
just to concentrate on the areas where DOT recognize the
local needs. Local participation is very much in line with
what ISTEA asked for. This will also add some stability to
the local road construction in the state.
DOT did not want to decide each year exactly how much money
each area would get. They thought it would be better to
divide the state up in some ways of districting and have a
steady flow of money every year going to that district.
This way you could plan ahead and accomplish the various
things that you wanted to do.
The decision was made to divide the BTP money between
boroughs and let the borough governments be responsible for
the planning and expenditure of the local funds. The BTP
money was divided into three major areas. The main things
to consider in the BTP were how much money to expend to the
local boroughs and what would the fairest way be to divide
these funds.
After much discussion, it was discovered that Alaskans
wanted roads which existed to be brought up to better
standards. Fifty percent of the ISTEA money was put into
existing roads. Thirty-five percent would go into local
roads statewide, which amounts to approximately 84 million
dollars to the members of the boroughs. Fifteen percent was
included for expansion of the system.
DOT started this program by going to the borough mayors and
asking them to appoint a committee to help with the
decisions in the BTP money. This committee has been
instrumental in the current proposed plans.
In addition to the committee, there has been an extremely
effective audience. It has been a program that has gained a
tremendous amount of support at the grass roots level.
Number 0275
REPRESENTATIVE MENARD asked COMMISSIONER TURPIN how far
along they were on the process.
Number 0280
COMMISSIONER TURPIN replied that the last step would be on
how to divide the money. He said $66 million would be
divided among the boroughs, since the boroughs often have
necessary projects that are much larger than their allotment
can handle. It was determined to take $18 million and call
that "competitive funding." According to Commissioner
Turpin, this is available to compete for every year. The
only part that has not been resolved is how to divide the
$18 million. This plan may be finalized on Friday, February
12.
Number 0285
REPRESENTATIVE MENARD asked COMMISSIONER TURPIN if the
boroughs were more accepting of this program in relation to
the maintenance which could get dumped on them.
Number 0289
COMMISSIONER TURPIN noted that the program had been widely
accepted, even within the Mat/Su Borough. He noted
Fairbanks isn't as completely satisfied, but they are
beginning to look deeper into the program and find out they
are not as bad off as they originally thought.
Number 0302
COMMISSIONER TURPIN indicated that John Martin with the DOT
has been available to every assembly, mayor and everyone who
has questions. He said John Martin has been traveling
extensively throughout the state and has been well received.
Number 0315
CHAIR FOSTER asked COMMISSIONER TURPIN if anyone on the
working group represented unorganized boroughs.
COMMISSIONER TURPIN replied there was a representative from
Valdez, specifically, the city manager.
Number 0302
COMMISSIONER TURPIN stated that the unorganized boroughs had
been treated just if they were another borough. He said the
borough formula money had been divided by taking the base
amount given to each borough, which is $350,000. The rest
of the money would then be divided on the basis of
population and half the amount of vehicles registered. This
money would flow every year. The $17.9 to $18 million
amount would be competitive funding.
Number 0320
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON questioned the amount on the first
page listed under the BTP in the amount of $75,600.
COMMISSIONER TURPIN answered by stating that the $75,600
amount was before the matching money had been added in. The
total for the BTP, the core system program and the expansion
program amounts to $216,000. The match for that money
totals $27,800. The total for these added together equals
$253,800. He said 35% of that amount is to go to the
boroughs ($84 million).
Number 0350
COMMISSIONER TURPIN: We will not see much difference with
this program. The state will continue to bring in local
projects in their plan, just as they always have. DOT will
have planned the CORE system, which is major highways, and
they will have planned the EXPANSION highways. The only
difference is that DOT will not have planned the boroughs.
The borough will have planned that part of the budget. This
may be approved or disapproved as the legislature sees fit.
Payment is made by going to the Federal Highway Department
with the list of projects and will obligate the money needed
for these projects. They will be paid on a project-by-
project basis. DOT will do the major design and
construction part of all the projects. The boroughs are
doing the planning only with money which is lumped out for
the boroughs as they show the need for planning.
The department would be happy to let the boroughs work out
exchanges among themselves if they cannot use their
allotment. The main thing is that they want to dedicate 35%
of the money to local needs. If one borough wants to trade
with another for one year, that is fine anyway they want to
work it out. The borough doesn't need to do the planning.
DOT will be available to provide planning where necessary.
Number 0380
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS asked what is included in the core
system.
COMMISSIONER TURPIN stated the municipal league worked up a
very specific criteria for what is defined as a CORE road.
Number 0398
CHAIR FOSTER complimented Commissioner Turpin on the plan
for ISTEA.
Number 0599
DALE MERRELL, PE, ASCG INCORPORATED, noted the necessity for
the department to maintain a good quality of workers in the
contract administrators positions. He indicated that,
although there a lot of good consultants, not every
consultant will complete a project as well as they should.
He said the ASCG has done a tremendous amount of work for
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). They have been involved
in most of the transportation planning for the BIA in
Alaska, as well as in the Lower 48. They do allow a
considerable amount of force account work, simply because of
where some of the areas in Alaska are located. They
currently deal with every village that has roads through the
BIA to do their transportation planning for them. They have
relied heavily on public input.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 0626
CHAIR FOSTER adjourned the meeting at 5:55 p.m.
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