04/12/2012 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 115(TRA)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act designating a portion of Minnesota Drive and a                                                                     
     portion of O'Malley Road in Anchorage the Walter J.                                                                        
     Hickel Expressway."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:32:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
YASMINE   HABASH,   STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE   CRAIG   JOHNSON,                                                                   
explained  HB  115. She  referred  to the  Sponsor  Statement                                                                   
(copy on file):                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Walter  J.  Hickel  served  as the  Governor  of  Alaska                                                                   
     twice, served with distinction  as U.S. Secretary of the                                                                   
     Interior,  and led and inspired  the development  of the                                                                   
     State  of  Alaska  and  the  Circumpolar  Arctic  Region                                                                   
     throughout  his long distinguished  career. In  Governor                                                                   
     Hickel's many  elected and public roles  he successfully                                                                   
     pushed  to  open  Prudhoe  Bay to  oil  development  and                                                                   
     oversaw  the  permitting  process for  the  Trans-Alaska                                                                   
     Pipeline among many other accomplishments.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     HB  115  designates  concurrently  naming a  portion  of                                                                   
     Minnesota  Drive  and  O'Malley Road  in  Anchorage  the                                                                   
     Walter J. Hickel Expressway  from 15th Avenue to the New                                                                   
     Seward  Highway. This  section of  highway is 7.5  miles                                                                   
     long and by concurrently  naming this section of highway                                                                   
     there will be  no need for any household  or business to                                                                   
     change their address.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:33:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Thomas wondered  if there was  a significant  reason                                                                   
for picking  15th Avenue  as the  starting point, instead  of                                                                   
downtown. Ms.  Habash replied that  she was not aware  of any                                                                   
significant  reason  for  the   designation,  and  agreed  to                                                                   
provide further information.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:34:34 AM                                                                                                                    
Co-Chair Hoffman OPENED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:34:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  noted the one  fiscal impact note  from the                                                                   
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CS HB 11  (TRA) was HEARD  and HELD in committee  for further                                                                   
consideration.