04/07/2009 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB142 | |
| SB24 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 171 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 142 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 7, 2009
1:04 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
Representative Craig Johnson, Vice Chair
Representative Cathy Engstrom Munoz
Representative Mike Doogan
Representative Max Gruenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Kyle Johansen
Representative John Harris
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 142
"An Act authorizing the conveyance of certain land of the Alaska
Railroad Corporation to the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 142 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 24
"An Act naming the bridge over Hammer Slough on Nordic Drive in
Petersburg the Louis Miller Bridge."
- MOVED SB 24 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 171
"An Act authorizing the transfer of two parcels of land from the
Alaska Railroad Corporation to the Municipality of Anchorage;
and providing for an effective date."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 142
SHORT TITLE: TRANSFER RAILROAD LAND TO DOTPF:FAIRBANKS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) PASKVAN
03/09/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/09/09 (S) TRA, L&C
03/17/09 (S) TRA AT 1:00 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/17/09 (S) Moved SB 142 Out of Committee
03/17/09 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
03/18/09 (S) TRA RPT 4DP
03/18/09 (S) DP: MENARD, DAVIS, MEYER, PASKVAN
03/26/09 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211
03/26/09 (S) Moved SB 142 Out of Committee
03/26/09 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/27/09 (S) L&C RPT 4DP
03/27/09 (S) DP: PASKVAN, MEYER, THOMAS, DAVIS
04/01/09 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/01/09 (S) VERSION: SB 142
04/02/09 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/02/09 (H) TRA
04/07/09 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: SB 24
SHORT TITLE: LOUIS MILLER BRIDGE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEDMAN
01/21/09 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/09
01/21/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/09 (S) TRA, FIN
02/03/09 (S) TRA AT 1:00 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/03/09 (S) Moved SB 24 Out of Committee
02/03/09 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
02/04/09 (S) TRA RPT 4DP
02/04/09 (S) DP: KOOKESH, DAVIS, MEYER, PASKVAN
02/27/09 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/27/09 (S) Heard & Held
02/27/09 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/27/09 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/27/09 (S) Moved SB 24 Out of Committee
03/27/09 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/30/09 (S) FIN RPT 5DP
03/30/09 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, STEDMAN, THOMAS, ELLIS,
HUGGINS
04/01/09 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/01/09 (S) VERSION: SB 24
04/02/09 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/02/09 (H) TRA, FIN
04/07/09 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
JEFF STEPP, Staff
Senator Joe Paskvan
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 142 on behalf of the prime
sponsor, Senator Joe Paskvan.
MARY SIROKY, Legislative Liaison
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the discussion of
SB 142.
JOHN BENNETT, Right-of-Way Chief
Northern Region
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT/PF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the discussion of
SB 142.
DONNA GUARDINO, MPO Coordinator
Fairbanks Metropolitan Area Transportation System (FMATS)
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the discussion of
SB 142.
WESTON EILER, Staff
Senator Bert Stedman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 24 on behalf of the prime
sponsor, Senator Bert Stedman.
AL DWYER, Mayor
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 24.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:04:36 PM
CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:04 p.m. Representatives Doogan,
Munoz, Johnson, and Wilson were present at the call to order.
Representative Gruenberg arrived as the meeting was in progress.
SB 142-TRANSFER RAILROAD LAND TO DOTPF:FAIRBANKS
1:05:14 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 142, "An Act authorizing the conveyance of
certain land of the Alaska Railroad Corporation to the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; and
providing for an effective date."
1:05:41 PM
JEFF STEPP, Staff, Senator Joe Paskvan, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of the prime sponsor, Senator Joe
Paskvan, stated that the Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities (DOT&PF) is planning on reconstructing Illinois
Street, which provides primary access to downtown Fairbanks from
the north. Additionally other streets intersect Illinois and
Barnette Streets, which add to the travel demands and safety
concerns along this corridor.
MR. STEPP referred to a map in members' packets. In order to
complete this project the DOT&PF needs to acquire full interest
of approximately five acres of property. The Alaska Railroad
Corporation requires legislative approval for this action to
proceed. This bill would provide authority for the DOT&PF to
use cash, land of equal value or a combination of both to the
ARRC. There is no additional fiscal impact since DOT&PF costs
are part of the construction cost of this project. The DOT&PF
and the ARC support the bill. Additionally, the Downtown
Association of Fairbanks and the Fairbanks Visitor and
Convention Center support the project.
1:08:16 PM
MR. STEPP, in response to Chair Wilson answered that he is not
aware of any opposition. He related that the project has been
fully vetted publically in Fairbanks.
1:08:42 PM
MR. STEPP, in response to Representative Johnson, explained that
the five acres of land do not form a perfect rectangle, but wrap
around the project area. He related that the boundaries
encompass the area.
MARY SIROKY, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF),
referred members to some maps in their packets. She explained
that the highlighted area represent parcels that DOT&PF would
receive from the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC).
1:10:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON inquired whether any buildings are on the
property that is designated to be conveyed to DOT&PF.
JOHN BENNETT, Right-of-Way Chief, Northern Region, Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT/PF), answered that there
are not any buildings on the land that will be conveyed to the
DOT&PF.
MR. BENNETT, in response to Representative Johnson, explained
that the investigation for hazardous waste is currently ongoing.
He further explained that the department has identified some
HAZMAT [hazardous materials] that will need to be dealt with and
that a consultant is also checking for any soil contamination.
1:12:26 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked whether the HAZMAT [hazardous materials] will
be taken care of prior to the transfer.
MR. BENNETT answered that passage of SB 142 would grant the ARRC
the authority to convey the land to the state. However, he
indicated that the DOT&PF would still need to proceed through
the acquisition process, including appraisals, negotiations, and
document preparation. Thus, the DOT&PF will have information on
any soils contamination prior to the land transfer.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON stated that he would like to go on the
record that he does not want to transfer land that creates an
environmental cleanup situation. He opined that the DOT&PF and
the ARRC would lose his support for the land transfer if that
environmental situation occurs.
1:13:38 PM
MS. SIROKY, in response to Chair Wilson, explained that DOT&PF
will use the land for the roadway, the right-of-way, and for
sidewalks. She stated that all of the land is important for the
structure and construction of the road.
1:14:20 PM
DONNA GUARDINO, MPO Coordinator, Fairbanks Metropolitan
Transportation System (FMATS), stated that FMATS is funding the
Illinois construction project from its transportation
improvement program. She related that the project has been
included in their program since 1985, and is currently in the
right-of-way acquisition phase. This bill will enable the
DOT&PF to acquire the land from the ARRC that is necessary to
reconstruct the Illinois Street. She pointed out that is a top
priority project for the FMATS policy committee. The initial
stage of the project, the Barnette Street Bridge, is planned to
be built this winter. The FMATS hopes the remainder of the
project will begin construction in late 2010 or early 2011. She
highlighted that the critical path for the project is successful
acquisition of right-of-way to construct the project as planned.
Given that it is necessary for the legislature to convey the
land, and the ARRC has approved the land transfer and FMATS
encourages the committee to support SB 142.
1:15:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked who will be the ultimate owner,
whether it will be a state road or if the land will be
transferred to the City of Fairbanks.
MS. SIROKY offered her belief that the road will remain on the
state inventory.
MS. GUARDINO responded that portions of the land will be
maintained by the City of Fairbanks and some will be maintained
by the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB).
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON inquired as to whether ownership will
also belong to the City of Fairbanks and the FNSB. He offered
his preference to have the land conveyed to the either the City
of Fairbanks or the FNSB.
MS. SIROKY explained that Illinois Street is a state road.
While some maintenance agreements may be in place, she was not
aware of any intention by DOT&PF to transfer the land to the
City of Fairbanks or the FNSB.
1:18:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON inquired as to whether anything would
prevent the road transfer.
MS. SIROKY offered to provide that information later.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON reiterated his belief that the land
should be transferred. He added that in his district he also
advocates that upgrades be made and then transferred to the
city.
1:19:42 PM
CHAIR WILSON noted that the bill has one more committee of
referral to the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
MS. GUARDINO offered that she reviewed the maintenance agreement
for this project. She detailed that the DOT&PF has agreed to
accept ownership and maintenance responsibilities for all
signal, illumination, and bridge features. The City of
Fairbanks has agreed to accept ownership and maintenance
responsibilities for all new roadway, sidewalks, signage, and
drainage facilities including seasonal surface maintenance for
Illinois, Barnette, and Cushman Street bridges. And the FNSB
has agreed to assume the responsibility to maintain the
landscaping, she related.
MR. BENNETT related his experience has been that even when the
state transfers maintenance responsibilities to a city, that the
DOT&PF typically retains the title of the land. He opined part
of the reason is due to the federal obligations in using federal
funds, since the federal agency has specific requirements for
management and disposition of the right-of-way. He further
opined that adhering to the policy is more easily managed when
the state retains the title to the land.
1:21:45 PM
CHAIR WILSON, after first determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on SB 142.
1:22:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report SB 142 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being no objection, SB 142 was reported from the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
SB 24-LOUIS MILLER BRIDGE
1:22:48 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 24, "An Act naming the bridge over Hammer Slough
on Nordic Drive in Petersburg the Louis Miller Bridge."
1:22:57 PM
WESTON EILER, Staff, Senator Bert Stedman, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of the prime sponsor, Senator Bert
Stedman, stated that SB 24 would name a bridge in Petersburg in
honor of Louis Miller. Mr. Miller was an early Alaskan pioneer
who contributed much to the community of Petersburg. He
explained that Mr. Miller came to Alaska as part of the Klondike
Gold Rush and arrived in Petersburg in 1901. He worked as a
carpenter for town funder Peter Buschmann. Mr. Miller is
credited with constructing some of the first homes along the
Hammer Slough area. He served as foreman for the construction
of the community Sons of Norway Hall. Mr. Miller also operated
a moorage and a warehouse at the site of the Hammer Slough
Bridge. The bill would recognize his memory and contribution by
naming the bridge over Hammer Slough in his honor. This bill is
supported by the City of Petersburg, and a resolution of support
is in members' packets.
1:24:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON referred to the fiscal note for $4,000.
He recalled that the committee passed a bill naming the Joseph
C. Williams, Sr. Coastal Trail with a zero fiscal note. He
inquired as to whether the DOT&PF could also zero out this
fiscal note.
1:25:16 PM
MS. SIROKY recalled the fiscal note for the Joseph C. Williams,
Sr. Coastal Trail, and reminded members that in that instance an
existing sign was moved. Thus, the department absorbed the
cost. However, she explained that new signs represent an
expense and if the department absorbs the cost the funding, it
would be taken from the DOT&PF's maintenance budget. She
pointed out that the DOT&PF performs ongoing maintenance and
replacement of its signs. She concluded that since this sign is
for an initial installation, that the cost should be reflected
in the bill.
1:26:30 PM
CHAIR WILSON also recalled that the Joseph C. Williams, Sr.
Coastal Trail required moving an existing sign to one end of the
trail.
1:26:40 PM
AL DWYER stated that the Petersburg City Council reviewed the
bill and issued a resolution in support of designating the
bridge across Hammer Slough on the Mitkof Highway as the Louis
Miller Memorial Bridge. He said, "We're all for it and we're
hoping that it gets through the process and we rename the
bridge." In response to Chair Wilson, Mr. Dwyer indicated that
currently the bridge is currently called the "bridge".
CHAIR WILSON, after first determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on SB 24.
1:27:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report SB 24 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
There being no objection, SB 24 was reported from the House
Transportation Standing Committee.
1:29:08 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:29
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 142 fact sheet.pdf |
HTRA 4/7/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SB 142 |
| sb142 backup.pdf |
HTRA 4/7/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SB 142 |
| SB142 sponsor stmt.pdf |
HTRA 4/7/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SB 142 |
| SB24 sponsor stmt.pdf |
HTRA 4/7/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB24 Backup.pdf |
HTRA 4/7/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |