04/24/2025 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION

        HJR 14-PORT MACKENZIE & NORTHERN RAIL EXTENSIONS                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:06:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  CARRICK  announced that  the  first  order of  business                                                               
would  be   HOUSE  JOINT  RESOLUTION   NO.  14,   Supporting  the                                                               
completion of the Port MacKenzie  Rail Extension and the Northern                                                               
Rail   Extension;   supporting    the   increase   in   defensive                                                               
capabilities  at  Fort  Greely,  Alaska;  encouraging  a  renewed                                                               
commitment by the Alaska Railroad  to a community-minded approach                                                               
to  future rail  expansion;  and encouraging  the development  of                                                               
critical Arctic infrastructure.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:07:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR CARRICK  moved to adopt  Amendment 1 to HJR  14, labeled                                                               
34-LS0776\N.1, Walsh, 4/21/25, which read as follows:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, following line 4:                                                                                                  
     Insert new material to read:                                                                                               
          "WHEREAS a railroad would provide an efficient                                                                      
     and safer alternative to industrial hauling operations                                                                     
         on public highways that are not designated as                                                                          
     industrial use highways; and"                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR CARRICK objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR CARRICK  stated that Amendment  1 would add a  clause to                                                               
point out  the additional  benefit of  offsetting the  impacts of                                                               
industrial  hauling.   She  explained  that  the rail  extensions                                                               
would provide an efficient alternative to highway use.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:07:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES questioned  the sponsor's  opinion of  the                                                               
amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:07:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE expressed  agreement  with the  amendment;                                                               
however, he clarified that if it  were not a resolution, the term                                                               
"industrial"  would  need  to  be defined  in  terms  of  hauling                                                               
operations.   He  expressed the  understanding that,  in general,                                                               
the  amendment  would address  the  need  to relieve  traffic  on                                                               
highways.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:08:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR CARRICK withdrew her objection.   There being no further                                                               
objection, Amendment 1 to HJR 14 was adopted.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:08:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES moved  to report CSHJR 14,  as amended, out                                                               
of   committee   with    individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying  fiscal  notes.   There  being  no objection,  CSHJR
(TRA)  was  reported  from the  House  Transportation  Standing                                                               
Committee.