Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124

01/31/2023 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION

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Audio Topic
01:00:45 PM Start
01:07:46 PM Overview: Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
02:57:39 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+ Overview: Department of Transportation & Public TELECONFERENCED
Facilities by Commissioner Ryan Anderson; Deputy
Commissioner Katherine Keith; Deputy Commissioner
John Binder; Joe Kemp, Acting Northern Region
Director; Wolfgang Junge, Central Region
Director; Lance Mearig, Southcoast Region
Director
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
            HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                           
                        January 31, 2023                                                                                        
                           1:00 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kevin McCabe, Chair                                                                                              
Representative Craig Johnson                                                                                                    
Representative Tom McKay                                                                                                        
Representative Sarah Vance                                                                                                      
Representative Louise Stutes                                                                                                    
Representative Genevieve Mina                                                                                                   
Representative Andrew Gray                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Donna Mears                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
RYAN ANDERSON, Commissioner                                                                                                     
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Co-offered the PowerPoint of the Department                                                              
of Transportation & Public Facilities overview.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
WOLFGANG JUNGE, Regional Director                                                                                               
Central Region                                                                                                                  
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities                                                                                
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Co-offered the PowerPoint of the Department                                                              
of Transportation & Public Facilities overview.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
JOE KEMP, Acting Northern Region Director                                                                                       
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities                                                                                
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION   STATEMENT:     Co-offered  the   PowerPoint  for   the                                                             
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities overview.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
LANCE MEARIG, Regional Director                                                                                                 
Southcoast Region                                                                                                               
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities                                                                                
POSITION  STATEMENT:     Co-offered   a  PowerPoint   during  the                                                             
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities overview.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:00:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  KEVIN  MCCABE  called the  House  Transportation  Standing                                                             
Committee  meeting  to  order  at   1:00  p.m.    Representatives                                                               
Johnson,  McKay,  Vance,  Stutes,  Mina, Gray,  and  McCabe  were                                                               
present at the call to order.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
^Overview: Department of Transportation & Public Facilities                                                                     
   Overview: Department of Transportation & Public Facilities                                                               
                                                                                                                              
1:07:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCCABE announced  that the only order of  business would be                                                               
the  Overview  of  the  Department  of  Transportation  &  Public                                                               
Facilities.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:09:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RYAN  ANDERSON,  Commissioner,  Department  of  Transportation  &                                                               
Public Facilities,  co-offered the Overview of  the Department of                                                               
Transportation  &  Public  Facilities   (DOT&PF).    He  began  a                                                               
PowerPoint  presentation and  drew  attention to  slide 2,  which                                                               
shows the  organization of  the department.   In addition  to the                                                               
commissioner,  there is  one  deputy  commissioner who  oversees:                                                               
Statewide Design  & Engineering  Services; Program  Development &                                                               
Statewide Planning;  Highway Safety; Alaska Marine  Highways; and                                                               
Change  Management.     Another  deputy   commissioner  oversees:                                                               
Statewide  Aviation  &   Airport  Leasing;  Alaska  International                                                               
Airport  System;  Measurement  Standards and  Commercial  Vehicle                                                               
Compliance;  State  Equipment  Fleet;  Facilities  Services;  and                                                               
Safety  Coordination.     Regional  Directors  oversee  Northern,                                                               
Southcoast, and Central Capital  Project Delivery and Maintenance                                                               
and Operations.   He listed  the following boards  and committee:                                                               
the  Alaska Marine  Highway Board;  the Aviation  Advisory Board;                                                               
the  Roads  &    Highways   Advisory  Board;  and  the  Executive                                                               
Facilities Management Advisory Committee.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON,  to slide  3, related DOT&PF's  mission is                                                               
to "keep  Alaska moving,"  and its core  values are:   integrity,                                                               
excellence,   respect,  and   safety.     He   spoke  about   the                                                               
department's  duty  to  oversee   a  network  of  highways,  thus                                                               
contributing to the  development of commerce and  industry in the                                                               
state, which in  turn aids in extracting  resources and improving                                                               
the economic and general welfare of the people of Alaska.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:11:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDERSON showed  a map on slide 4, which  depicts the state's                                                               
237 airports  managed and operated  by the department,  more than                                                               
any other state.  Also shown  as red dots are the maintenance and                                                               
operation (M&O) stations.  The  highway system is shown as yellow                                                               
lines, and the  marine highway is shown with dashes.   He pointed                                                               
out that the  Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS)  covers an area                                                               
equal to the  distance from Florida to California.   He turned to                                                               
slide  5, which  gives the  following  measures of  the scope  of                                                               
DOT&PF's   infrastructure   as  follows   [original   punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     ROADS & HIGHWAYS                                                                                                           
     5,682 center line miles / 11,843 lane miles of roads /                                                                     
     highways                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     MAINTENANCE TEAMS                                                                                                          
     80 DOT&PF staffed maintenance stations*                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     AVIATION SYSTEM                                                                                                            
     235 rural airports, 2 international airports                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     ALASKA MARINE HWY SYSTEM                                                                                                   
      9 ferries, 35 ports of call, along 3500-mile coastal                                                                      
     route                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     MARINE FACILITIES                                                                                                          
     16 harbors, 1 set of breakwaters                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     BRIDGES & TUNNELS 851 DOT&PF                                                                                               
     owned bridges, 3 tunnels**                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     MEASUREMENT STANDARDS                                                                                                      
         Inspected 7,438 scales, 4,787 meters, and 296                                                                          
     accessories                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     STATE EQUIPMENT FLEET                                                                                                      
     7,366 pieces of state equipment & vehicles                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     PUBLIC FACILITIES                                                                                                          
     827 maintained, inclusive of 731 DOT&PF owned                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT                                                                                             
     9 Weigh Stations, 2,544,047 tons weighed FFY22                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION ASSETS                                                                                            
     Approximately $12.6B                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     STATEWIDE PERSONNEL AND DISTRIBUTION                                                                                       
     3,393 permanent full-time, part-time and non-permanent                                                                     
     employees in 8 labor unions in 83 locations                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Federal Fiscal Year (FFY)                                                                                                  
     *Includes seasonal maintenance stations                                                                                    
     **DOT&PF-owned tunnels and maintenance of the 2.5 mile                                                                     
     Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:14:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in response  to  a  question from  Chair                                                               
McCabe,  confirmed  that  there   are  still  commercial  vehicle                                                               
compliance officers.  They generally work at the weigh stations.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:15:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON  moved on  to  slide  6, which  shows  the                                                               
department's budget  in pie charts,  with an operating  budget of                                                               
$438,138.4  and  capital  budget  of $1,462,627.8.    Within  the                                                               
operating budget  is the following:   highways,  rural variation,                                                               
facilities,   $147,048.3;  international   airports,  $110,487.9;                                                               
Marine  Highway  System,  $157,222.2; and  all  other  functions,                                                               
$23,380.0.  Within the capital  budget is the following:  airport                                                               
improvement   program,   $462,009.2;    AMHS   annual   overhaul,                                                               
$22,000.0;  federal program  match,  $126,755.8; state  equipment                                                               
fleet   replacement,   $25,000.0;  statewide   federal   program,                                                               
$66,213.5; surface transportation  program, $755,505.9; and other                                                               
state funded projects, $5,143.4.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:16:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in  response  to  Representative  Vance,                                                               
listed  some categories  that fall  under "all  other functions,"                                                               
including:      measures   and  standards;   commercial   vehicle                                                               
compliance;  management and  support  services; human  resources;                                                               
procurement;  information   technology;  and  oversight   of  the                                                               
capital program.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:17:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in  response to  Representative  Stutes,                                                               
explained  that the  federal program  match  would match  dollars                                                               
that are representative of the  department's capital program.  To                                                               
a follow-up question, he confirmed  that would include "the ferry                                                               
boat funds."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:18:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  ANDERSON, in  response to  Representative  C. Johnson,  said                                                               
this is the  overall budget; it is not general  fund (GF) monies.                                                               
He offered to get a GF graph to the committee at a later date.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:19:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON returned  to the  PowerPoint, to  slide 7,                                                               
"Our  Team,"  which shows  the  regions  for DOT&PF:    Northern,                                                               
Central, and Southcoast.   It also lists  the following divisions                                                               
within  the department,  which are:   Statewide  Aviation, Alaska                                                               
International  Airport  System,  Alaska  Marine  Highway  System,                                                               
Design   and  Engineering   Services,   State  Equipment   Fleet,                                                               
Measurement  Standards &  Commercial Vehicle  Compliance, Program                                                               
Development,  Facilities  Services  Division,  and  Civil  Rights                                                               
Office.   He  continued to  slide  8, which  lists the  following                                                               
strategic investment areas:  safety,  economic vitality, state of                                                               
good  repair   (SOGR),  resiliency,   and  sustainability.     He                                                               
mentioned electric vehicles  and a carbon reduction  mandate.  He                                                               
said sustainability is new and  includes considerations unique to                                                               
Alaska.  One idea is to convert all street lights to LED.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:23:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, in response  to Representative Vance, said                                                               
a presentation focused on sustainability  could be requested from                                                               
the  committee for  a  future date.    He moved  on  to slide  9,                                                               
"Organizational Excellence,"  which includes the  following areas                                                               
of  focus:     workforce,  communication,   culture,  innovation,                                                               
information,  resourcing,  project,  and delivery.    Some  ideas                                                               
include improving processes, mission  critical incentive pay, and                                                               
working out different scheduling.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:25:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in response  to  a  question from  Chair                                                               
McCabe  regarding   current  staffing  and  vacancies,   said  he                                                               
hesitates to  give numbers for  the entire department  because it                                                               
is so big.  He said, "When you  look at all the PCNs, we're at 50                                                               
percent."   Staffing  issues depend  on location,  he added.   He                                                               
mentioned  the airport  in Nome  and the  Anchorage International                                                               
Airport  as having  had challenges  in hiring  enough staff.   He                                                               
said the department looks for patterns.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:27:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON  returned to  the PowerPoint, to  slide 10,                                                               
"Information  X     Traffic," which  read  as  follows  [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Challenges with the old system "Navigator"                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     • Exclusively road traffic impacts                                                                                         
     • Funding source did not cover aviation                                                                                    
     • Excluded most rural Alaska projects                                                                                      
     • Redundancy in effort with 511                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Solutions with the new system "Traveler 511 Info AK"                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     • Single source of  information for all traffic impacts                                                                    
     (maintenance, construction, weather, crashes, cameras)                                                                     
     •  Meets  the  public   where  they're  at--via  phone,                                                                    
     website, and mobile app                                                                                                    
     • Automatic data grab reduces data entry effort                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:28:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, in response to  a remark from Chair McCabe                                                               
about  online sources  for watching  road conditions,  noted that                                                               
other states  have maps  for that  purpose, such  as to  "track a                                                               
plow," and  DOT&PF is considering  that technology.  He  moved on                                                               
to  slide 11,  "Information  X    Date,"  which  read as  follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Challenges                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     • Need to communicate more than traffic impacts                                                                            
     • No central location to find information                                                                                  
      • Data is collected, stored, and managed differently                                                                      
     in each region                                                                                                             
     • Extensive manual data entry                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Solutions                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
      • Public-facing GIS map with expanded project info,                                                                       
     STATEWIDE                                                                                                                  
         • Layers of data show legislative boundaries,                                                                          
     municipal boundaries, and more                                                                                             
       • Automatic data processing and reports to reduce                                                                        
     manual entry                                                                                                               
     • Scalable  useful for internal & external data                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON  talked  about  having  a  "one-stop-shop"                                                               
approach to consolidate data.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:30:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in   response  to  Representative  Mina,                                                               
confirmed  that DOT&PF  shares information  and works  with local                                                               
government  transit systems,  although  there is  not one  system                                                               
being used to do so.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:31:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON  introduced Wolfgang Junge to  speak on the                                                               
topic of the Central Region's 2023 construction project.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:32:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WOLFGANG JUNGE, Regional Director,  Central Region, Department of                                                               
Transportation &  Public Facilities, covered slides  12-15 of the                                                               
PowerPoint, which show  the projects of DOT&PF by  region.  Slide                                                               
12  shows  the  Central  Region  2023  Construction,  region-wide                                                               
projects.  In response to Chair  McCabe, he said he thinks nearly                                                               
all the  money for these  projects came  from FAA monies,  but he                                                               
offered  to find  out  if any  of the  money  came from  stimulus                                                               
funds.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:35:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JUNGE   move  on   to  slide   13,  which   shows  Anchorage                                                               
Municipality  2023  Construction.    He  said  one  highlight  is                                                               
reconstruction  of  the  Seward   Highway  between  O'Malley  and                                                               
Dimond,  at a  total estimated  cost  of $113  million.   Another                                                               
project  of  note   is  the  Dowling  Road   and  Seward  Highway                                                               
Interchange reconstruction  project, at  a cost  of approximately                                                               
$43  million.   The  final  big project  in  that  region is  the                                                               
O'Malley   Road  Reconstruction,   phase   II,  at   a  cost   of                                                               
approximately $41 million.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:36:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JUNGE turned  to  slide 14,  which  shows 2023  construction                                                               
projects for  the Matanuska-Susitna  (Mat-Su) area.   Of  note is                                                               
the Knik Goose Bay  Road, at a cost of $75  million for the first                                                               
phase; the Seward  Meridian Parkway, at an estimated  cost of $60                                                               
million;  and the  Glenn Highway,  Parks Highway  to South  Inner                                                               
Springer Loop, phase II, at  a cost of approximately $70 million.                                                               
In  response to  Chair  McCabe,  he said  the  completion of  the                                                               
construction of the bridges will be by the end of 2023.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:39:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JUNGE moved  on to  slide  15, the  Kenai Peninsula  Borough                                                               
projects,  including:     the  Cooper  Landing   bypass  project,                                                               
estimated to be completed by  2027, with an estimated expenditure                                                               
of $690  million.  He  said this  will include the  state's first                                                               
wildlife overcrossing.  He noted  environmental permits have been                                                               
completed  for  the  Sterling Highway  safety  corridor,  between                                                               
Sterling and  Soldotna, Alaska, and it  should be out to  bid for                                                               
the "design/build  action" by spring 2023.   He said it  would be                                                               
an  estimated  $77   million  for  that  safety   corridor.    He                                                               
highlighted   the   Sterling   Highway  milepost   (MP)   157-169                                                               
reconstruction,  Anchor   Point  to  Baycrest,   including  North                                                               
Fork/Anchor River bridges.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:43:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOE  KEMP,   Acting  Northern  Region  Director,   Department  of                                                               
Transportation  & Public  Facilities,  co-offered the  PowerPoint                                                               
for  the   Department  of  Transportation  &   Public  Facilities                                                               
overview.   He began with  slide 16,  which gives an  overview of                                                               
the  Northern  Region 2023  construction,  and  he discussed  the                                                               
timing of some projects, including  construction on the Parks and                                                               
Richardson Highways.   He said  the cost for the  Northern Region                                                               
is somewhere  between $330 and  $350 million; about  $150 million                                                               
of that is being spent "out West."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:45:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  KEMP turned  attention to  slide 17,  which shows  Fairbanks                                                               
Area  Construction  2023,  including last  phases  of  University                                                               
Avenue and  a bridge opening ceremony.   He pointed out  that one                                                               
project will cut  "wait time" down at  the Fort Richardson/Steese                                                               
intersection from six minutes to about one and a half minutes.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:48:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LANCE  MEARIG, Regional  Director, Southcoast  Region, co-offered                                                               
the  PowerPoint for  the Department  of  Transportation &  Public                                                               
Facilities  presentation.   He  brought  attention  to slide  18,                                                               
which  shows  Southcoast  Region 2023  construction,  region-wide                                                               
projects, including  a perimeter  fencing project at  the airport                                                               
in Kodiak, an equipment building  at Cold Bay, and a navigational                                                               
aide on St. Paul Island.   He mentioned another navigational aide                                                               
in Yakutat, an ongoing project on the Haines Highway at MP 12-                                                                  
20,  an  intersection  safety improvement  project  in  Sitka,  a                                                               
couple  projects  on  Prince  of Wales  Island,  and  a  rockfall                                                               
mitigation project  in Wrangell.   In response  to Representative                                                               
Vance,  he  talked  about  Federal  Emergency  Management  Agency                                                               
(FEMA) emergency  projects [in response  to] a storm  in December                                                               
2019 in Southeast  Alaska.  The FEMA projects  are in Petersburg,                                                               
Juneau, and Skagway, he noted.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:52:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   ANDERSON,  in   response   to   a  question   from                                                               
Representative  Stutes  regarding  guard rails,  said  DOT&PF  is                                                               
putting together a plan to  inventory the state's guard rails and                                                               
replace them, as necessary.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:54:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   ANDERSON,  in   response   to   a  question   from                                                               
Representative  C. Johnson  about recalled  guardrails, confirmed                                                               
there are  some of those  type of  guardrails in Alaska,  and the                                                               
department is replacing them as  funding allows and on a project-                                                               
to-project basis.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:56:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. MEARIG returned  to the PowerPoint, to slide  19, which shows                                                               
the Juneau  Area 2023 construction projects,  including a pathway                                                               
project  at Brotherhood  Bridge  Trail [Kaxdigoowu  Héen Dei],  a                                                               
safety product  at the Eagan/Yandukin intersection,  and stage II                                                               
of a Douglas  Highway project that will commence  summer 2023, at                                                               
a cost  of approximately $11 million.   He moved on  to slide 20,                                                               
which  shows  the  Ketchikan  Area  2023  construction  projects,                                                               
including   Wolfe   Point   slope   stability,   Tongass   Avenue                                                               
improvements,  a city  bridge replacement  at  Water Street,  and                                                               
others.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:58:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  MEARIG continued  to slide  21, which  shows details  of the                                                               
Katlian Bay  Road project  from Sitka  and south  to the  head of                                                               
Katlian  Bay.   The  project  has  been  challenging, and  it  is                                                               
expected to cost [$67.9] million  at completion.  An operator was                                                               
killed in  a landslide  the first season,  so the  contractor has                                                               
proceeded with  caution.  Efforts  are also being made  to reduce                                                               
costs.   He offered further  details regarding the  challenges of                                                               
the project.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:02:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. MEARIG,  in response to Representative  Stutes, clarified the                                                               
route  of the  Katlian Bay  Road.   He  said  it would  not be  a                                                               
heavily traveled  road; its use  would be more recreational.   In                                                               
response  to Chair  McCabe, he  talked about  the reason  for the                                                               
designed  route, including  that  it would  have  been longer  to                                                               
follow the coastline.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:06:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   ANDERSON,  in   response   to   a  question   from                                                               
Representative Vance as to whether  there had been a cost/benefit                                                               
analysis done, offered his understanding  that there had not; the                                                               
department takes  direction and moves  forward. He remarked.   He                                                               
said  DOT&PF  recognizes  it  could  have  done  better  on  this                                                               
project, and he  emphasized the importance of  considering how to                                                               
complete the  project economically.   He said the  2004 Southeast                                                               
plan recognizes "this corridor."                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:09:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  MEARIG, in  response to  Representative Stutes  asking where                                                               
the  road  will  get  people   who  use  it,  answered  there  is                                                               
recreational  land at  the end  of the  road.   In response  to a                                                               
follow-up question, he began, "It's a new road to..."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES interjected,  "Seventy million  bucks will                                                               
go a long way in the Marine Highway."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. MEARIG, in response to  a question from Chair McCabe, offered                                                               
his understanding  that the original  plan in 2012 had  been that                                                               
this road would be  a start to the other side of  the island to a                                                               
ferry terminal.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:11:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, in response  to Representative Vance, said                                                               
the project  was funded  by a  general obligation  (GO) bond    a                                                               
package  of  funding    and  was  voted on  by  the  public.   In                                                               
response to a follow-up question  as to this basically being from                                                               
general funds,  he said,  "Well, at this  time, we  wouldn't have                                                               
authorization  just  to  spend  from  the  general  fund."    The                                                               
department would  have to look at  unspent GO bond funds  or find                                                               
other appropriations that exist, he concluded.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:12:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON  picked back  up  with  the PowerPoint  at                                                               
slide 22,  which lists services to  Alaskans.  He moved  to slide                                                               
23  and discussed  the serious  crash rate.   Over  the past  few                                                               
years,  the  average  of pedestrian  fatalities  associated  with                                                               
crashes has been  20 percent, which is high.   He pointed out the                                                               
chart  on slide  22, which  shows statistics  from 1981  to 2021.                                                               
The red line  is the fatality rate; the blue  line is the serious                                                               
injury  rate; and  the green  line  is the  fatality and  serious                                                               
injury  rate.   In 2006,  the legislature  implemented a  statute                                                               
that allowed DOT&PF to establish  safety corridors, and there was                                                               
a resulting decline in fatality rates.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:16:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   ANDERSON,  in   response   to   a  question   from                                                               
Representative Mina,  named two  possible causes  that fatalities                                                               
have risen nationwide - distracted  driving and driving under the                                                               
influence  and said these statistics are being studied.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:16:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON,  in response to Representative  C. Johnson                                                               
regarding property  loss versus  fatalities, said  the department                                                               
can  provide  that  information.   In  response  to  a  follow-up                                                               
question, he indicated that the  information is collected through                                                               
police reports, so it can be delayed.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:18:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in response  to  a  question from  Chair                                                               
McCabe regarding  safety corridors,  directed attention  to slide                                                               
24,  which lists:    Seward Highway,  Potter  Marsh to  Girdwood;                                                               
Parks Highway, Wasilla to Houston;  Sterling Highway, Sterling to                                                               
Soldotna;  and Knik-Goose  Bay  Road,  Palmer-Wasilla Highway  to                                                               
Point MacKenzie Road.   He noted there has been  success with the                                                               
Parks Highway safety corridor, so it is being decommissioned.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:20:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in   response  to  Representative  Gray,                                                               
discussed the  considerations for establishing  safety corridors,                                                               
including serious injuries  and fatality rates.   He talked about                                                               
"traffic calming"  through road design.   He explained  that just                                                               
lowering the speed limit without  other engineered solutions does                                                               
not lead to lower injury and fatality rates.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:22:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in   response  to  Representative  Mina,                                                               
regarding funding for safety corridors,  said they are 90 percent                                                               
funded by  the federal  government.  For  example, the  Bureau of                                                               
Highway Patrol  is under the  Highway Safety  Improvement Program                                                               
funded by the federal government.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:22:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, in response  to Representative Vance, said                                                               
he would  provide regional statistics  on fatalities at  a future                                                               
date.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:25:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON, in  response to  Chair McCabe,  regarding                                                               
what  could  be funded,  said  the  department looks  at  various                                                               
factors, including pedestrian safety.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:27:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in  response  to  Representative  Stutes                                                               
asking  for   feedback  regarding  bicyclists,  said   they,  and                                                               
possibly even  motorcyclists, are considered  "vulnerable" users,                                                               
and he said the department is  looking at that aspect in terms of                                                               
transportation improvements.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:28:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON  returned to  the PowerPoint, to  slides 25                                                               
and 26, which  show West Coast Alaska  storm response, challenges                                                               
and  solutions.   He  spoke about  a recent  typhoon  that was  a                                                               
several-day event  that stretched  a lot of  agencies responding.                                                               
No one was killed, but  considerable property was destroyed.  The                                                               
sea  level rose  8-18  feet,  and over  50  miles of  federal-aid                                                               
highway was damaged.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:31:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in   response  to  Representative  Mina,                                                               
regarding  best  practices,  talked about  having  more  incident                                                               
command  system training.   He  also spoke  about technology  and                                                               
prepping teams for response.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:32:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON  moved on  to slides  27 and  28, regarding                                                               
winter maintenance.   He noted there has been an  increase in the                                                               
frequency of  extreme events.   He  talked about  challenges with                                                               
job  vacancies and  the  supply  chain for  equipment.   He  said                                                               
DOT&PF  is working  more with  local  governments with  workforce                                                               
development,  flexible  work   schedules,  and  mission  critical                                                               
incentive  pay.   In response  to Representative  Mina, regarding                                                               
funding for snow plows, he said  the department has a priority to                                                               
plow  roads,  followed by  pedestrian  facilities,  and there  is                                                               
discussion about how that is  prioritized.  He allowed that there                                                               
are times  when equipment breaks down,  and he noted [a  lack of]                                                               
mechanics can exacerbate that issue.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:36:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in   response  to  Representative  Gray,                                                               
regarding contracting  and road ownership,  said there is  a wage                                                               
study that will  occur this year.   He said he thinks  it is good                                                               
for  DOT&PF  to take  care  of  main  roads, and  the  department                                                               
supports local governments taking care of the smaller roads.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:40:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, in response  to Representative C. Johnson,                                                               
talked  about upgrades  in relation  to  trades, such  as one  in                                                               
Kodiak.   He said typically,  "when folks want  to take on  a new                                                               
road, they do want  a good road."  He sought a  list of all those                                                               
roads.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:42:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in  response to  Chair  McCabe,  further                                                               
discussed  trades.   He added  that  if there  are federal  funds                                                               
involved,  there  must  be  assurance   that  the  road  will  be                                                               
maintained.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:43:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON  returned to  the PowerPoint, to  slides 29                                                               
and  30, regarding  community-driven planning.   He  talked about                                                               
rural areas and consideration of  a multi-modal system, such as a                                                               
model in  the Lower 48  called the Rural  Transportation Planning                                                               
Organization.  He  said the department offered  funding for local                                                               
communities interested in this planning,  and the following areas                                                               
have  taken  this on:    Copper  Valley Development  Association;                                                               
Fairbanks,  North Star  Borough;  Northwest  Arctic Borough,  and                                                               
Bristol Bay.   In response to  Chair McCabe, he described  how he                                                               
got the word out about this opportunity.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:47:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON  addressed slides 31 and  32, regarding the                                                               
Alaska  Marine Highway  System  (AMHS).   He  talked about  aging                                                               
vessels that spend  more time in the shipyard,  which impacts the                                                               
ferry scheduling.   Another issue is recruiting  and retention of                                                               
employees.     He   talked  about   the   "Charting  the   Course                                                               
Initiative,"  operational   audit,  review  of   maintenance  and                                                               
overhaul practices, leverage  of younger ships in  the fleet, and                                                               
pursuit  of  a  capital  program  for  vessel  replacement  using                                                               
discretionary funding.   He said  the department's focus  in this                                                               
arena is reliability and modernization.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:51:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   ANDERSON,   in   response   to   a   remark   from                                                               
Representative   Stutes   about   the  forward-funding   of   the                                                               
legislature to enable AMHS to  get its schedule published earlier                                                               
and the summer schedule not  yet being released, mentioned issues                                                               
with the Motor Vessel (M/V) Columbia  and Prince Rupert.  He said                                                               
the department  would get the  schedule out as soon  as possible.                                                               
He noted  there had been a  request to extend the  public comment                                                               
period.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  noted the reason  for the request  for the                                                               
extension of the  public comment period was  that the information                                                               
had been made available only three days prior to it.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:53:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, in response  to Representative Gray, as to                                                               
the  main reason  there is  a challenge  in hiring  and retaining                                                               
crew,  said this  is a  nationwide problem.   He  noted that  the                                                               
department  had recently  negotiated labor  agreements.   He said                                                               
this seems to  be an issue bigger than wages,  and the department                                                               
is looking at  ways to improve the experience  of AMHS employees,                                                               
including having Wi-Fi on the vessel for the crew.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:54:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE    STUTES   expressed    her   appreciation    for                                                               
Commissioner Anderson's work with AMHS.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:54:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ANDERSON,  in  response  to  Representative  Vance,                                                               
regarding gaps in service, said  the department put out contracts                                                               
in Seldovia  and Kodiak, and it  got bidders in Kodiak.   He said                                                               
the  department has  been  successful getting  bids  in the  Lynn                                                               
Canal.  He  indicated the learning curve in the  process in terms                                                               
of knowing whether  the department must work harder  in any given                                                               
area to "find  people."  In response to a  follow-up question, he                                                               
said he  would get back  to Representative Vance regarding  a bid                                                               
in Seldovia and possible solutions.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:56:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MCCABE thanked  Commissioner Anderson.   He  mentioned his                                                               
recent   experience   riding   on  a   ferry   and   complimented                                                               
Commissioner Anderson on the professionalism of "his crew."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:57:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Transportation  Standing  Committee   meeting  was  adjourned  at                                                               
[2:58] p.m.