02/13/1996 01:33 PM Senate TRA

 STRA - 2/13/96                                                                
                                                                               
           SB 241 STUDDED TIRES ON STERLING HIGHWAY                          
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RIEGER introduced  SB 241  as the next order of business             
 before the committee.                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 177                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR TORGERSON, Prime Sponsor of SB 241, explained that SB 241             
 would establish the same studded tire rules for the entire Sterling           
 Highway.  The bill would prohibit the use of studded tires on the             
 Sterling Highway from May 1 through September 15.  SB 241 would               
 treat the traveling public on Sterling Highway the same.  With                
 regard to the attached fiscal note, Senator Torgerson did not                 
 believe it to contain much merit.  He felt that wear on the road              
 from studded tires already existed; no one is really changing his             
 or her tires on this highway.                                                 
                                                                               
 BO BROWNFIELD, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of                       
 Transportation & Public Facilities, said that the current                     
 legislation regarding this highway is confusing because there are             
 two standards on the same highway.  DOT supported SB 241.                     
 Regardless of the current wear on this highway, passage of SB 241             
 would increase the wear to about $60,000 a year.                              
                                                                               
 SENATOR ADAMS pointed out that the fiscal note says that 90 percent           
 of the funding for maintenance of the highway is received from the            
 federal government which is matched by Alaska.  Senator Adams                 
 emphasized that he has always supported studded tires for Alaskans            
 because it saves lives.                                                       
                                                                               
 Number 227                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR ADAMS moved that SB 241 be forwarded out of committee with            
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                  
 ordered.