03/17/2009 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

       SB 142-TRANSFER RAILROAD LAND TO DOTPF: FAIRBANKS                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:01:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MENARD announced the consideration of SB 142.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
JEFF  STEPP,  Staff to  Senator  Paskvan,  introduced SB  142  on                                                               
behalf  of  the sponsor.  He  explained  that the  Department  of                                                               
Transportation  and Public  Facilities  (DOTPF)  is preparing  to                                                               
reconstruct  Illinois Street,  which provides  primary access  to                                                               
downtown  Fairbanks  when  traveling  from the  north.  This  new                                                               
construction will be over the Chena  River into the center of the                                                               
golden heart of the city. To  complete the project DOTPF needs to                                                               
acquire full interest in approximately  five acres of what is now                                                               
railroad property.  The Alaska Railroad Corporation  Act requires                                                               
legislative  approval  for  the  action to  go  forward.  SB  142                                                               
provides that authority  and specifies that DOTPF  will provide a                                                               
combination  of cash,  land of  equal value  or a  combination of                                                               
both to the Alaska Railroad.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
At ease at 1:03 pm.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MENARD,  finding no  one  who  wanted to  testify,  closed                                                               
public testimony and asked the will of the committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:04:31 PM                                                                                                                    
Senator Davis joined the committee.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  MEYER  moved  to  report  SB  142  from  committee  with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There                                                               
being no objection,  SB 142 moved from  the Senate Transportation                                                               
Standing Committee.