Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
02/13/2024 01:30 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB282 | |
| SB129 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 282 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 129 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 129-MATT GLOVER BIKE PATH
1:53:20 PM
CHAIR MCCABE announced the last order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 129, "An Act naming the Matt Glover Bike Path."
1:54:29 PM
SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, introduced SB 129. He paraphrased the sponsor
statement [included in the committee packet], which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (DOTPF) is currently working on a paved
bicycle/pedestrian path along the Richardson Highway
starting near the intersection of Airport
Way/Richardson Highway to the Badger Road/Old
Richardson Highway intersection. This project will
connect two existing paths to create a continuous path
between the two cities. For decades, there has been no
way for pedestrians to walk or bike safely between
Fairbanks and North Pole. This path, referred to as
the MP 357-362 Bicycle/Pedestrian Path, will finally
connect these two cities and increase pedestrian
safety. Currently DOTPF staff are surveying and
clearing the project limits, and the project is
planned to be done by the fall of 2024.
With support from the Fairbanks Cycle Club, this
legislation proposes to name the MP 357-362
Bicycle/Pedestrian Path after the late Matt Glover who
was an avid cyclist and member of the cycling
community. Matt Glover participated in many local
rides including the Nenana-Rama, the Chena Hot Springs
Bicycle Classic, the Tour of Fairbanks, the Brown Leaf
Classic series, the Tanana River Challenge, and the
annual Women on Wheels "Butterfly Ride." He inspired
many fellow cyclists by traveling to these organized
cycling events by bike, participating in the rides,
and then cycling back home. His fellow cyclists
described him as kind and caring, with a witty sense
of humor. He travelled through rain and snow, logging
thousands of miles a year traveling between his home
in North Pole and work in Fairbanks. Tragically in
2022, Matt Glover passed away after a vehicle
collision while on his bike.
We believe naming the MP 357-362 Bicycle/Pedestrian
Path after Matt Glover will continue to inspire
Interior cyclists and foster pedestrian safety on the
new continuous pedestrian path between the city of
North Pole and Fairbanks.
1:56:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES referred to a big celebration in
Fairbanks, Alaska, and offered her belief it was for naming the
path after Mr. Glover.
SENATOR MYERS replied that the path had not been named yet, and
he added that the path is currently under construction.
1:57:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE observed there was no fiscal note
[reflecting a cost], and she presumed the project already had a
cost for signage and the bill would just be naming it.
SENATOR MYERS explained that the project is currently under
construction and [if] the bill passed this year, the costs can
be rolled for signage into the current project. If the bill
passed next year, there would be a cost, he said.
1:58:41 PM
THERESA WOOLSTAD, Staff, Senator Robert Myers, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Senator Myers, prime sponsor, gave the
sectional analysis for SB 129 [included in the committee
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Section 1: Legislative Intent
Establishes that it is the intent of the Legislature
that the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities shall create and erect signage dedicating
the bike path built in Fairbanks between Airport Way
and Badger Road during a future project.
Section 2: Dedication of bike path between Airport Way
and Badger Road
Establishes that the bike path shall be named the Matt
Glover Bike Path and the Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities shall create and erect signage
dedicating the bike path.
1:59:14 PM
CHAIR MCCABE invited questions from committee members.
1:59:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA commented that she read through letters of
support and offered her condolences about Mr. Glover's passing.
She said she hoped it would help shift the culture for drivers
around the area being mindful of pedestrians.
1:59:52 PM
CHAIR MCCABE welcomed invited testifiers.
2:00:28 PM
ERIC TROYER, President, Fairbanks Cycle Club, gave invited
testimony in support of SB 129. He explained that Mr. Glover
was a huge part of the cycling community and one of the most
avid cyclists in the area. His dedication to cycling was
inspiring, and he commuted regularly between the North Pole and
Fairbanks with weather rarely being a deterrent, he said. He
related the many organized rides Mr. Glover participated in, and
said that aside from his cycling achievements, Mr. Glover was
very well-liked by many. He read comments from Mr. Glover's
admirers that were sent in. He stated on behalf of the
Fairbanks Cycle Club that it is very appropriate to name the new
bike pedestrian path after Matt Glover, and that the path would
make cycling safer.
2:03:23 PM
ARIANE GLOVER, representing self, gave invited testimony in
support of SB 129. She stated she is the wife of Matt Glover
(indisc.). She spoke of Mr. Glover's bike commute being
approximately 120 miles per week, and he would often add
additional miles to his ride. Mrs. Glover related how she met
Mr. Glover through a hiking club and how their relationship
evolved. She shared how Mr. Glover embodied all things that
were unique to Alaska. She said there was no place Mr. Glover
would rather be than on two wheels, no matter the weather, and
added that he lived his life by example. She explained what
happened the morning of his accident, and that afterwards she
heard countless stories from individuals who had encountered Mr.
Glover. She concluded her testimony by asking for the
committee's support to move SB 129 in Mr. Glover's memory.
2:09:52 PM
CHAIR MCCABE opened public testimony on SB 129.
2:10:47 PM
CAMPBELL WEBB, representing self, testified in support of SB
129. He related that he lives off Badger Road in North Pole,
Alaska, and often in summer he will commute to work on his
bicycle and the only way to get there is to ride on the shoulder
of the busy Richardson Highway, which he said is scary and
dangerous. He recalled the times he observed Mr. Glover riding
his bike and would acknowledge him as a fellow rider. He
remembered the morning he came upon flashing lights and the
aftermath of an accident. He said he was overwhelmed with
emotion upon seeing a "crumpled up bike" but he did not know it
was Mr. Glover's at the time. He added that since then, he
learned a lot about Mr. Glover and what an inspiration he was to
the cycling community and to all who knew him. He restated his
support for naming the path after Mr. Glover as a memorial and
tribute to him and to cycling in general. He added that
personally, he would be grateful for this alternative way to get
to Fairbanks when he is biking. He thanked Senator Myers for SB
129.
2:13:38 PM
CHAIR MCCABE added that anyone wishing to offer further
testimony on the bill or who was unable to testify could email
the committee. He noted that there have been a number of emails
in support of SB 129.
2:14:20 PM
CHAIR MCCABE, after ascertaining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony on SB 129. He turned to the will of the
committee for amendments or to pass the bill.
2:14:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to report SB 129 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SB 129 was reported out of the
House Transportation Standing Committee.