Legislature(1993 - 1994)
01/28/1993 05:30 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
January 28, 1993
5:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Richard Foster, Chair
Representative Gary Davis, Vice-Chair
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Eldon Mulder
Representative Curt Menard
MEMBER ABSENT
Representative Jerry Mackie
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Overview
WITNESS REGISTER
Frank G. Turpin, Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
3132 Channel Dr.
Juneau, AK 99801-7898
465-3900
Position Statement: Provided a brief overview of DOT/PF
Randy Simmons, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
3132 Channel Dr.
Juneau, AK 99801-7898
465-3900
Position Statement: Observer
Keith Gerken, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
3132 Channel Dr.
Juneau, AK 99801-7898
465-3900
Position Statement: Observer
Katie McHugh, Special Assistant
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
3132 Channel Dr.
Juneau, AK 99801-7898
465-3900
Position Statement: Observer
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-1, SIDE A
Number 020
CHAIR RICHARD FOSTER called the meeting to order at 5:30
p.m. Chair Foster introduced and welcomed the Commissioner
of the Department of Transportation and Public Facility
(DOT).
COMMISSIONER FRANK TURPIN introduced himself for the record
and began his overview by indicating the new issues facing
the DOT this year, and the need for a lot of review of these
issues. He mentioned that a lot of the items he would
highlight in the overview would require special hearings
just to discuss the particular items.
The first item COMMISSIONER TURPIN discussed was the new
ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of
1991), and how it impacts Alaska. He said the Borough
Transportation Program in relation to ISTEA would also
require special hearings. Also included in the ISTEA
program, which will require further discussion, are
enhancements and safety aspects. Safety provisions will
require the state to spend $11 million a year improving
highway safety. This money was dedicated to that and cannot
be used for any other purpose. Money left over may be used
for traffic lights, night driving aids, etc. Commissioner
Turpin said the state and the DOT can work together to use
this large amount of money. If the $11 million is not used,
the state will lose it. It will go into television
commercials for driving safety.
Number 102
COMMISSIONER TURPIN next discussed EXECUTIVE ORDER 87 that
consolidates all the state buildings into the DOT. He
stated the department will follow up with legislation which
will set up an authority for managing state buildings.
COMMISSIONER TURPIN discussed the new proposed Alaska Marine
Highway vessel. The department is proposing to fund this
vessel with department money. They will present and discuss
that before the committee.
Referring back to the ISTEA issue which he discussed earlier
in the meeting, COMMISSIONER TURPIN brought up the new term
"intermodelism". He said this was an interesting way to
look at transportation. Alaska was one of six states given
a grant to study intermodelism in order to set some of the
criteria to best use the money in relation to putting the
money into areas where it can best be utilized; i.e., road
to airports, ferry terminals, and one city to another.
Number 159
COMMISSIONER TURPIN brought up two potential pieces of
legislation relating to federal money. The first one will
require everybody to wear helmets on motorcycles. He noted
that this law may be easier to pass in Alaska than the
second one. In Alaska today, if you are 18 years of age, or
a passenger on a motorcycle, you are required to wear a
helmet. The state will lose 5 percent of federal funds and
10 percent each year thereafter. The department may request
the House Transportation Committee to introduce this
legislation. The second piece of legislation was a little
more controversial -anyone convicted of a drug charge, no
matter what they were doing when they were consuming the
drug, would have their driver's license restricted for 90
days. He commented that this legislation may pass without
controversy, but he would be surprised. The only other
alternative to this piece would be for the House and Senate
to pass a resolution and a letter from the governor. The
letter from the governor would state that the state of
Alaska has adequate drug control in the state and does not
feel the law is necessary and the state refuses to pass such
a law. Commissioner Turpin said he would prepare the
resolutions.
COMMISSIONER TURPIN indicated he would like an opportunity
in the future to discuss the transportation dedicated fund
and what it would mean in gasoline, air fuel and marine
taxes in order to make the transportation system self-
sufficient.
Number 235
COMMISSIONER TURPIN also mentioned the discussions that took
place last year in relation to reorganizing the DOT
departments. He said there are currently three regions.
The Northern Region has two divisions because of all the
transportation problems in the northern area. The northern
area included a division office in Nome and in Valdez, as
well as the central unit in Fairbanks. Reorganization in
the design and construction now has the people reporting
directly to Fairbanks, which has improved efficiency. It
has been proven to be beneficial in the Nome area where the
employees who design the project are the people who live in
that area for the project. The design engineers change into
construction engineers in the summer. Commissioner Turpin
felt that if more of that could be done, it could improve
the efficiency. He stated the department is still looking
into centralizing the planning operation.
Number 277
COMMISSIONER TURPIN talked about several expansion projects
he would like to bring before the committee in the future.
General discussion followed the presentation by the
commissioner.
COMMISSIONER TURPIN mentioned that an unfortunate thing
happened last year due to a mix-up and other errors that
were made. The DOT funds were cut about 35 percent on the
Dalton Highway. Several options were tried in order to make
the funds available to do the job required. The DOT
developed an RFP (request for proposal) for contracting the
maintenance on the road, and this proved to be more
expensive. The increase in snow added another variable to
the financial problems on the Dalton Road. It has been
estimated that the DOT is currently $1.2 million short on
funding for maintenance on the Dalton Road for the rest of
the year.
COMMISSIONER TURPIN indicated he would submit a supplemental
that will add the $1.2 million to the budget for the Dalton
Highway. The DOT is now proposing to restore $1.8 million
to the maintenance budget, which was cut from $2.5 million.
Commissioner Turpin said $1 million has been added to the
capitol budget for deferred maintenance for the Dalton
Highway, which will allow them to make up for work they set
aside and were unable to do this winter, or the damage that
has occurred.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 589
CHAIR FOSTER adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.
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