03/05/1997 01:08 PM House TRA

 SJR 12 AM - CONSTRUCTION OF ALASKA HIGHWAY                                  
 Number 258                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS stated the next order of business is SJR 12 AM,             
 "Relating to reconstruction and paving of the Alaska Highway."                
                                                                               
 Number 280                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS stated that the resolution requests congress           
 to appropriate $95 million to pave the Shakwak or the North Alaska            
 Highway, which is the link outside the Alaska-Canada border to just           
 outside the Haines Junction.  He stated that it is the last link              
 that has to be paved.  This is an agreement that the U.S.                     
 Government and the Canadian Federal Government had agreed on, in              
 1977.  He stated that there would be no tolls charged on either               
 side of the border and it does not affect Alaska's state allocation           
 as far as federal highway monies are concerned.                               
                                                                               
 Number 359                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COWDERY asked if his understanding was correct            
 that no other projects will suffer as a result of SJR 12 AM.                  
                                                                               
 Number 373                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR PHILLIPS replied that is correct.  It is separate from our            
 allocation from the Federal Highway Administration.  He stated it             
 will not have any affect on the allocations internally in the                 
 state.                                                                        
                                                                               
 Number 395                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked if American firms are supposed to bid            
 on the contract.                                                              
                                                                               
 Number 420                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR PHILLIPS responded that the agreement is, we give Canada              
 the money to build the road and they take over the maintenance,               
 operations in perpetuity.  He stated that the reason is there are             
 350,000 visitors coming through the panhandle or through the mid-             
 section of Canada visiting Alaska.                                            
                                                                               
 Number 470                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR MACKIE stated that it would improve access to the capitol             
 city and to communities like Haines.  It would allow people to                
 drive into the interior and into Alaska.  He stated that the U.S.             
 State Department put out a travel advisory stating that this is one           
 of the most dangerous roads in the world because there aren't any             
 gas stations.  He stated that it has a tremendous affect on tourism           
 in Alaska for people traveling the highways if they get these                 
 travel advisories, that say this is a dangerous road because it is            
 not paved.  He stated that the ramifications of the one section of            
 the road has far reaching implications on tourism.  He stated that            
 he wanted to add his support to SJR 12 AM.                                    
                                                                               
 Number 548                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON asked what amendment was made from the             
 time it was put in.                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 562                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR PHILLIPS replied that it seems to him that the amendment,             
 would not tie the state to have any responsibilities as far as                
 administrating.  He stated that it was a concern brought up by                
 Commissioner Perkins, Department of Transportation and Public                 
 Facilities, and Senator Duncan had offered the amendment to clarify           
 who will do what with the road.  He stated that the road is                   
 basically a Canadian responsibility.                                          
                                                                               
 Number 607                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON stated that it would separate our                       
 responsibility from liability or maintenance of the highway.  He              
 stated that there is a study going on to build a road out of Juneau           
 and they have identified a source of funds and it is his                      
 understanding that none of the funds interact with the funds for              
 SJR 12 AM.  He stated that he is supportive of this resolution.               
                                                                               
 Number 648                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR PHILLIPS stated that there is a delegation going over to              
 Whitehorse on March 15, 1997 and he would like to have it passed to           
 show Alaska's mutual concerns and willingness to work together on             
 common problems.                                                              
                                                                               
 Number 693                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON made a motion to move SJR 12 AM, with                   
 individual recommendations, zero fiscal notes and asked unanimous             
 consent.                                                                      
                                                                               
 Number 700                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there was an objection.  Hearing none              
 SJR 12 AM was moved out of the House Transportation Standing                  
 Committee.