Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/19/2002 01:11 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 502-RUSTIC ROADS AND HIGHWAYS HB 473-STATE TRANSPORTATION PLAN CHAIR KOHRING announced that the committee would consider HOUSE BILL NO. 502, "An Act relating to the designation of and funding for rustic roads and highways; and providing for an effective date," and HOUSE BILL NO. 473, "An Act relating to transportation." CHAIR KOHRING informed members that HB 473 had been rolled into HB 502 [Version B], as was another provision having to do with transportation funding. Number 0138 MIKE KRIEBER, Staff to Representative Vic Kohring, Alaska State Legislature, testified before the committee. He explained that some committee members had been concerned with inconsistencies and some overlapping between HB 473 and HB 502. The bills therefore were combined to eliminate some of those concerns. Number 0206 MR. KRIEBER noted that HB 473 would be in Sections 4 and 5 of the proposed committee substitute (CS) [HB 502, Version B]. One of the primary changes in that language was to address some of Representative Kapsner's concerns about smaller projects in her district with a cost-benefit ratio of less than one in an economic analysis. He said this concern was addressed by a $1 million threshold amount for project cost estimates. This would exclude projects that cost less than that amount from the reevaluation requirement. MR. KRIEBER said [subsection] (f) in Section 5 had also been modified. He told the committee that it would make the legislature's approval process more passive, rather than the "heavyhanded" approach whereby the department would be required to approve every project at every step. Mr. Krieber pointed out that this change would allow the department to submit a written justification with a capital budget request for projects with cost-benefit ratios of less than one. This would provide the legislature with information, and give an opportunity for legislators to ask questions and make changes to the capital budget based on information in the justification. Number 0370 MR. KRIEBER directed the committee's attention to the changes that would be brought to HB 502 by the infusion of HB 473. He gave an overview of the general premise of the original bill. He said there were several modifications from the original bill to the current CS [Version B]. However, remaining is the general idea of using the draft regulations of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) as a format for designating road categories - the National Highway System, the Alaska Highway System, the Community Transportation Program, and Trails and Recreational Access For Alaska (TRAAK). He said the bill adds a fifth category to the DOT&PF regulations - Rustic Roads and Highways. Version B would also add "trails" to the rustic road category. MR. KRIEBER told the committee that DOT&PF regulations specify certain funding percentages for the current four road categories. The bill would modify those categories by small percentages [of federal surface transportation funds] in order to fund the fifth category, which would include rustic highways, roads, and trails. The bill would reduce the Alaska Highway System from 8 to 7 percent, the Community Transportation Program from 33 to 32 percent, and the TRAAK system from 8 to 5 percent. The rustic road category would receive 5 percent. He pointed out that the Coordinated Transportation System program would receive increased funding in Version B. Number 0710 CHAIR KOHRING asked Mr. Krieber to elaborate on what benefit would be derived from adding trails to the bill. MR. KRIEBER said it would provide funding for snow machine trails, and give access to fishing and hunting areas. He said the emphasis of the TRAAK program had been road enhancements, bike paths, and things of that nature. This would provide access into new areas that would benefit people statewide. Number 0794 REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 473, testified before the committee. He told members that combining HB 473 and HB 502 was fine. He asked the committee to consider inserting the word "reasonably" before the word "estimated" [on page 5, Section 5, line 29 of Version B]. He expressed concern that there could be "low-balling" in estimating, to get around the updating requirement. Number 0879 CHAIR KOHRING asked if Representative Green's aforementioned change would be acceptable to the committee. [It was treated as acceptable.] Number 0907 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked where the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) fits in. MR. KRIEBER pointed out that the AMHS falls under a separate funding category from the surface transportation program. He said the bill would not reduce the Alaska Marine Highway System. Number 0964 REPRESENTATIVE MASEK moved to adopt the proposed CS, Version B, 22-LS0822\B, Utermohle, 3/19/02, as the working document. CHAIR KOHRING announced that Representative Greene's change - inserting the word "reasonably" on page 5, line 29, - would be included. [Version B was treated as adopted with the aforementioned change.] CHAIR KOHRING stated that he would like to address public transportation and its receipt of 1 percent of the National Highway System funds as a result of Version B. Number 1024 MILLIE RYAN, Executive Director, Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education, testified before the committee. She told members that part of her organization's mission is to provide transportation for the disabled. She said coordinated public transportation makes up a very small portion of the statewide transportation budget. MS. RYAN told members that service levels have not kept up with population growth. Community transportation systems are in the beginning stages of development. These systems consolidate resources, have central dispatch functions, and provide many services to a large number of people. She gave examples of some of the transportation systems around the state. Ms. Ryan characterized much of the funding for these systems as "soft federal money" - about $4 million - that may go away with changes in Congress. Number 1191 MS. RYAN said the 1 percent is not a great deal of money - $2 million - but it could do a lot to provide access to transportation for people to get to work, receive medical service, and live in their communities. Emphasis on coordinated transportation systems would result in lower cost per ride, improved geographic coverage, and better use of funds for agencies that receive funding to transport their service recipients. Ms. Ryan gave several examples of the state savings that could be made as a result of the coordination of these transportation systems. Number 1375 KRISTIN LAMBERT, Executive Director, Central Area Rural Transit System, testified via teleconference. She said 1 percent of [federal surface transportation] funds would not be a large amount of money in comparison to the numbers who would benefit. She said Alaska has needed highway infrastructure for many years, but Alaska's transportation needs are not only "patching the potholes and building more roads." Emphasis must also be placed on "getting people around." MS. LAMBERT said the state needs to support community programs for coordinated transportation. She pointed out that [the funding from HB 502] would benefit over 1,000 people and their families in her area alone. She said 40 percent of the transportation her organization provides is for people going between jobs and home. Number 1520 PATRICK REINHART, Director, State Independent Living Council (SILC), testified via teleconference. He expressed his organization's support of [HB 502, Version B]. He said transportation is a major issue around the state, and that it is critical for people. The funding increase [in Version B] would go a long way in improving transportation systems across the state. Mr. Reinhardt pointed out the importance of building the programs and the resulting efficiencies in communities. Number 1605 JAMES FISHER, Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, testified via teleconference. He told the committee that the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank receives transportation service from the Central Area Rural Transit System for the needy families that it serves. He shared his understanding that the 1 percent funding from Version B would help to assure the vital public transportation to and from his food bank. He urged support for the 1 percent funding to coordinated public transportation. WAYNE EAGLE (ph) testified via teleconference. He expressed his belief that the "unpaved" designation for rustic roads might be doing the state a disservice. He cited the Taylor Highway as an example of a [paved] road that should be designated as rustic. Number 1844 ALLEN ECKLES (ph), Lessee, Tangle Lakes Lodge, testified via teleconference. He said he would like to see "the road upgraded." Number 1875 GARY NANCE, Owner, McLaren Lodge, testified via teleconference. He expressed frustration that the bill specifies that rustic roads must remain unpaved. He said he grew up in the area and would like to see it remain pristine, but said a 60-foot swath of upgraded road would not ruin it. He told the committee that many of his friends had testified in favor of the bill and against upgrading the Denali Highway, but he made it known that he stood at odds with them on the matter. Trying to run a business without rental cars or buses on the Denali Highway is very difficult, he told members. MR. NANCE pointed out that the people who travel in rental cars are not the ones to tear up the country: the people with off- road vehicles are the ones who leave the road and penetrate into untouched land. He said much of the support for the bill comes from the Fairbanks area and the people there who would like ensure [tour bus] routes are not lost, but he told the committee that he owned a business in Fairbanks as well. Mr. Nance said that he bought his lodge under the assumption that the road would be paved. He concluded by saying that he would like to see the Denali Highway paved. Number 2100 JOHN SCHANDELMEIER, Meier's Lake Road House, testified via teleconference. He said the combination of HB 473 and HB 502 "added a little something for everybody." He expressed his support of the rustic road provision. He told the committee that it was not the exclusion of tourism that was being sought in keeping the road unpaved; it was the wish to keep [the area] a destination instead of just a travel corridor. He told the committee of the importance of keeping the traffic slow and at a low volume, while trying to have overnight visitors who will spend money. He expressed his thought that the paving money could be better spent elsewhere. Number 2213 DEANNA ESSERT, Community Activist, Sand Lake Community Council, testified via teleconference. She said Sand Lake has a need to improve its existing transportation system. She told the committee of poor access to a new housing development in her area and asked why it was not at the top of DOT&PF's priority list. She expressed her concern about expensive projects taking precedence over small projects. Ms. Essert said cost-benefit analyses will allow funding to flow and will ensure "the most bang for the buck." She urged passage of HB 473. CHAIR KOHRING reminded Ms. Essert that HB 473 had been rolled into Version B of HB 502. TAPE 02-7 SIDE B Number 2383 FRANK DILLON, Executive Vice President, Alaska Trucking Association, testified via teleconference. He stated his concern about DOT&PF's recent revision of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) and what impact the changes in the bill might have on it. The process took a long time, he said. Mr. Dillon clarified that the Alaska Trucking Association is strongly in favor of lowering overhead costs for DOT&PF. He said he was not prepared to comment on the rustic roads portion of HB 502. Number 2295 RUTH L'HOMMEDIEU, Chair, State Independent Living Council (SILC), testified via teleconference. She expressed her support of Version B and its funds for coordinated community transportation. She said it is very important for people to have transportation for their employment, health care, and basic everyday needs. Number 2240 GEOFF PARKER testified via teleconference. He expressed support of the provisions of HB 473, as rolled into Version B [of HB 502]. He said he was speaking specifically to the cost-benefit analysis and "most bang for buck" aspects of HB 473. Number 2205 SAM KITO III, Chair, Legislative Liaison Committee, Alaska Professional Design Council, testified via teleconference. He said his organization supports the concept of accountability, but he expressed concern as to whether the bill would delay implementation and construction of projects. He expressed reservations about the restriction on the possibility that gravel roads will be paved. Paving decreases maintenance costs, he pointed out, and the funds saved can be used on other projects. Number 2054 CHUCK KAUCIC testified via teleconference. He said the amount of TRAAK funding is small in relation to that of the federal highway money. He posited that TRAAK money should be used to fund recreational access and not for highway construction. He told the committee that there is highway money for highways, and TRAAK money for TRAAK projects. [HB 502 was held over; HB 473 was incorporated into HB 502, Version B.]
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