Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
02/28/2008 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB265 | |
| SB190 | |
| SB189 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 265 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 189 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 189-APPROP.: BRIDGES, SERVICE ROADS, TRAILS
1:29:12 PM
CHAIR ALBERT KOOKESH announced SB 189 to be up for
consideration.
DAVE STANCLIFF, staff to Senator Therriault, sponsor of SB 189,
reviewed that this bill addressed the most important component
of the state's highway system especially in light of some of the
construction that is anticipated with the gasline. A number of
bridges have been investigated since the bridge disaster in the
Lower 48 and have been identified as at-risk and in need of
serious work. At the last meeting Senator Cowdery had requested
information that the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (DOTPF) has provided.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if the administration had requested any
money for these bridges and how many federal dollars would be
involved if the state funds the program.
FRANK RICHARDS, Deputy Commissioner, Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF), replied that the
bill asks for an appropriation from the general fund and doesn't
mention federal funding. He said the state has federal funding
through the Highway Administration for bridges, but it is
already allocated and these needs are greater than the available
resources. He said this bill would address some bridges that
currently have structural deficiencies, but aren't in the near-
term spending plan.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the administration supports this
bill.
MR. RICHARDS answered yes.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if he asked for this money from the
general fund.
MR. RICHARDS replied that DOTPF didn't request it as part of its
capital budget; Senator Therriault brought this bill forward.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked why they didn't request funds through
the budget process.
MR. RICHARDS replied in preparing the capital and operating
budget for FY'09 the department received guidance from the
governor's office in terms of the level of funding.
Subsequently, additional bills were put forward such as the G.O.
Bond package for $121 million of highway needs and the Alaska
Transportation Fund that created an endowment that created
approximately $50 million/year earnings that could be used to
cover transportation needs across the state.
1:33:45 PM
SENATOR COWDERY commented that for this amount of money the
state should get as much leverage out of it as it can.
SENATOR OLSON agreed and added this approach seemed
contradictory if the administration is in favor of it, but is
not asking for it.
SENATOR OLSON moved to report SB 189 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
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