04/03/2012 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

           HB 115-NAMING WALTER J. HICKEL EXPRESSWAY                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:01:43 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KOOKESH   announced  that  the  next   item  before  the                                                               
committee would  be HB  115, which would  designate a  portion of                                                               
Minnesota  Drive and  O'Malley Road  in Anchorage  the Walter  J.                                                               
Hickel Expressway.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
YASMINE HABASH,  staff, Representative Craig Johnson,  sponsor of                                                               
HB  115,  presented  the  bill  on behalf  of  the  sponsor.  She                                                               
explained that  CSHB 115(TRA) will  concurrently name a  7.5 mile                                                               
portion  of  Minnesota Drive  and  O'Malley  Road the  Walter  J.                                                               
Hickel Expressway.  No establishments  will have to  change their                                                               
addresses.  She  related  that   throughout  Walter  J.  Hickel's                                                               
career, he served  as Alaska's governor twice,  as U.S. Secretary                                                               
of  Interior  under  President   Nixon,  and  advocated  for  the                                                               
development of  the State  of Alaska  and the  Circumpolar Arctic                                                               
Region. In  his many  elected and  public roles,  he successfully                                                               
pushed  to  open  Prudhoe  Bay to  oil  development  and  oversaw                                                               
permitting process  for the Trans  Alaska Pipeline.  He concluded                                                               
that naming the section of road  after Mr. Hickel was fitting, as                                                               
he was a great advocate for public roads and transportation.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  EGAN said  he  was in  favor of  the  bill; however,  he                                                               
suggested lowering the fiscal note.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:04:24 PM                                                                                                                    
KIRK WICKERSHAM,  representing himself,  testified in  support of                                                               
HB 115.  He stated that  it was appropriate that  Governor Hickel                                                               
be  honored in  a  very  visible public  way  because  he was  an                                                               
advocate,  creator, and  student  of public  policy. He  stressed                                                               
Governor Hickel's role in "owner  state". He highlighted Governor                                                               
Hickel's many  achievements. He  hoped the  new signs  naming the                                                               
highway  the  Hickel  Expressway  were larger  than  the  current                                                               
signs.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:07:12 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KOOKESH closed public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MENARD  moved to report  CS for  HB 115, version  B, from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  note.  There  being  no   objection,  CSHB  115(TRA)  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.