Legislature(2023 - 2024)ANCH LIO DENALI Rm
07/11/2024 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Public Safety in Alaska's Traffic Corridors | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Anchorage, Alaska
July 11, 2024
1:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Kevin McCabe, Chair
Representative Sarah Vance, Vice Chair
Representative Tom McKay
Representative Jesse Sumner
Representative Genevieve Mina
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Louise Stutes
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): PUBLIC SAFETY IN ALASKA'S TRAFFIC CORRIDORS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
MAJOR ANTHONY APRIL
Alaska State Troopers
Department of Public Safety
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the Public Safety in
Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
SHANNON MCCARTHY, Communications Director
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the Public Safety in
Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
ANNA BOSIN, Research Development & Technology/Transfer Manager
and Tribal Liaison
Division of Statewide Design and Engineering Services
Department of Transportation & Pubic Facilities
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the Public Safety in
Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
ALEX REID
DOT Central Region
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the Public Safety in
Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
LUKE BOWLAND, Preconstruction Engineer
Central Region
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the Public Safety in
Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
STEVE NOBLE, PE, PTOE, Senior Project Manager
DOWL
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the Public Safety in
Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
KRYSTAL HOKE, representing self
Girdwood, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave public testimony during the Public
Safety in Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
CARRIE HARRIS, representing self
Anchor Point, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave public testimony during the Public
Safety in Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
JEFF THALMAN, representing self
Anchor Point, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave public testimony during the Public
Safety in Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:02:19 PM
CHAIR KEVIN MCCABE called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. Representatives McCabe,
McKay, Vance, Mina, and Sumner were present at the call to
order. Representatives Johnson and Stutes arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
^PRESENTATION(S): PUBLIC SAFETY IN ALASKA'S TRAFFIC CORRIDORS
PRESENTATION(S): PUBLIC SAFETY IN ALASKA'S TRAFFIC CORRIDORS
1:02:57 PM
CHAIR MCCABE announced that the only order of business would be
the Public Safety in Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation.
1:04:29 PM
CHAIR MCCABE introduced the presenters from the Alaska
Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF).
1:05:40 PM
MAJOR ANTHONY APRIL, Alaska State Troopers, Department of Public
Safety (DPS), as co-presenter, began the Public Safety in
Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation [hardcopy included in
the committee packet] on slide 1, where he gave a brief overview
of the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
and DPS's plans for transit safety along Alaska's roadways. In
response to Chair McCabe, he explained that there were eight
different types of statistics that DOT&PF and DPS measure. In
response to Representative Mina, he said he did not have
specific data currently regarding a breakdown of
pedestrian/vehicle collision but would follow-up with the
committee later. In response to Representative Vance, he noted
there were three fatalities during 2023 on the Kenai Peninsula,
and he said that the Alaska State Troopers maintains a clear
patrol of highways on the Kenai Peninsula.
1:16:29 PM
SHANNON MCCARTHY, Communications Director, Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities, as co-presenter of the
Public Safety in Alaska's Traffic Corridors presentation and in
response to Chair McCabe, stated that many of the causes of car
crashes along the Kenai Highway could be attributed to a number
of factors, including [lack of] seat belt use, driver error,
weather/road conditions.
1:23:04 PM
ANNA BOSIN, Research Development & Technology/Transfer Manager
and Tribal Liaison, Division of Statewide Design and Engineering
Services, Department of Transportation and Pubic Facilities,
resumed the Public Safety in Alaska's Traffic Corridors
presentation on slide 5, titled "Safety Corridor Results," which
displayed a graph conveying the results of a traffic safety
study performed along specified safety corridors in Alaska as
well as listed shortened results of the study. In response to
Representative Mina, she pointed to information on the graph
relating to crash data along the Seward Highway. She continued
to slide 6, which used graphs displaying statistics to emphasize
the disproportionate role that speed plays in automobile crashes
along Alaska's highways. In response to Representative Vance,
she explained that a traffic safety corridor is a designation of
highway given to roads, usually rural ones, on which DOT&PF
performs safety "focus studies."
1:33:53 PM
MS. BOSIN continued to slide 7, which displayed a number of
images, graphs, and statistics related to vehicle speeds and
speed-related accidents along Alaska's highways. She moved to
slide 8, which elaborated on the previously emphasized speed-
related accidents by breaking down the specifics of each speed
related accident and comparing Alaska's statistics to the United
States' speed-related accident statistics as a whole. Slide 9
displayed two graphs that highlighted the traffic volume versus
the fatal and major traffic crashes that have occurred along the
Seward Highway traffic safety corridor. She continued to slide
10, which emphasized the disproportionately serious outcomes of
traffic accidents that occur on rural roads. She moved to slide
11, which used three graphs to highlight the leading causes of
traffic accidents along Alaska's roadways.
1:44:57 PM
CHAIR MCCABE asked why certain driving laws aren't enforced when
they could be effective in lowering vehicle accident rates.
MS. BOSIN explained the specifics of AST's traffic enforcement
practices and said that certain rules are sometimes "omitted"
from enforcement due to the difficulty of their application. To
another question, he said he would follow up with an answer
later addressing uniform enforcement of rights-of-way and
passing lanes along Alaska roadways.
1:51:13 PM
MS. BOSIN, in response to Representative Vance, said that she is
currently unaware of any patterns that could be taken away from
the accidents occurring on the Kenai Peninsula. She said that
the Department of Health (DOH) has good statistics on substance
abuse and explained that often more than one drug is usually the
cause of intoxicated driving. She resumed the presentation on
slide 12, which highlighted DOT&PF's successes in public roadway
safety, particularly through the use of seatbelts and roadway
access management. She moved to slide 13, which described
DOT&PF's ongoing efforts to lower the risk of automobile
accidents along Alaska's highways. In response to Chair McCabe,
he noted that narrowing of vehicle lanes, referred to as
"gateway treatment," as well as more thoughtful land use are
more effective solutions to controlling speed than simply
lowering the speed limit on a given road.
2:06:21 PM
MS. BOSIN, in response to Representative Vance, confirmed DOT&PF
is aware of the Kachemak City Council's request for a lower
speed limit along its roadways and explained that DOT&PF must go
through a number of processes to ensure the funding, permitting,
and approval of a project before it can take any action
concerning the matter.
2:11:21 PM
MS. MCCARTHY mentioned that the DOT&PF is happy to partner with
boroughs along the Kenai [Peninsula] to ensure and improve
safety along the highway.
MS. BOSIN, in response to Representative Sumner, said she would
follow up later with an answer as to the rate of accidents in
communities with declining rates of seatbelt usage.
2:13:10 PM
ALEX REID, Central Region, Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities, as co-participant in the Public Safety in Alaska's
Traffic Corridors presentation, resumed the presentation on
slides 15 and 16, which highlighted the Knik-Goose Bay (KGB)
road project and the current conditions of the existing KGB
roadway. In response to Chair McCabe, he explained that there
is an existing path along the current KGB Highway that is
subject to heavy all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use. The proposal
would include a separate path for pedestrians and one dedicated
to the use of ATVs and smaller motor vehicles. He continued to
slide 17, which displayed a concept image of the proposed KGB
roadway's design and listed specific measurements of the
conceptual design. He assured Chair McCabe that DOT&PF is
working at an arduous pace to ensure priority projects like the
KGB highway project are completed on schedule.
2:20:44 PM
MR. REID, in response to Representative Mina, said he would get
back to her regarding snow removal on the KGB Highway project's
proposed pedestrian pathway. He continued to slides 18-19,
which gave a break-down of the proposed project phases for the
KGB Highway and explanations of those phases. He told Chair
McCabe he would follow up later with information regarding
closures and delays. He continued to slide 21, which detailed
improvements currently being made to the KGB Highway. Slides 23
and 24 explained the proposed improvements to Wasilla's main
street. He moved to slide 25 and discussed a highway safety
improvement project and noted an intersection at Vine and
Hollywood where there are three times the average crashes
compared to other intersections in the state. The department is
proposing a single lane roundabout, pedestrian accommodations,
and lighting.
2:33:41 PM
LUKE BOWLAND, Preconstruction Engineer, Central Region,
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, as a co-
presenter, moved through slides 26 and 27 to explain the
proposed Parks Highway improvement project. Slides 28 and 29
detailed the phases of the Glenn Highway reconstruction project.
He related slides 30 and 31 and noted that first phase of
construction should start in 2025.
2:38:32 PM
MR. REID, in response to Representative Mina, said DOT&PF would
work south to north. To Chair McCabe, he noted that "road
rutting" is one of the biggest issues that DOT&PF aims to fix
with the Glenn Highway project. He confirmed that offering
options for getting off highways can help when there has been an
accident. He mentioned a resurfacing project for bridges over
Knik River and a fix that would take a while to complete.
2:45:18 PM
MR. BOWLAND moved to slide 32, which detailed the challenges of
the Seward Highway safety corridor. Slides 33 and 34 displayed
photos of construction along the Seward Highway and the work
being done to improve it. In response to a question from Chair
McCabe, he said he couldn't speak specifically to any bridges
outside of his project and assured the committee that projects
would be done in a timely manner.
2:50:24 PM
MR. BOWLAND, in response a question from Representative Vance as
to how DOT&PF determines where to construct more infrastructure,
said the department looks for progressions in terms of
population increases.
MR. REID added that DOT&PF is not really putting parking along
roadways.
MR. BOWLAND suggested letting DOT&PF know early on in the design
process where pull-outs/parking may be needed.
2:54:55 PM
MR. REID moved to slide 35, which displayed an early draft image
of the proposed Sterling-Seward Highway merge improvement
project. In response to Chair McCabe, he said the department
has initial design funding for this project. He confirmed that
the project is out for public comment. He resumed the
presentation on slide 36, which detailed a preliminary design
for the Sterling-Seward Highway merge project and quickly moved
to slide 37, which explained the proposed Juneau Creek bridge
along the Sterling Highway. He moved to slide 39, which
displayed a map of the Southern Sterling Highway and detailed
ongoing and future improvements to be made to the highway.
3:02:41 PM
STEVE NOBLE, PE, PTOE, Senior Project Manager, DOWL, as co-
participant in the Public Safety in Alaska's Traffic Corridors
presentation, brought attention to slide 40, which displayed a
map of projects along the Sterling Highway as it runs through
Seward. He moved to slide 41, which explained public and
stakeholder outreach related to the improvements being made
along the Sterling Highway. He moved to slide 42, which touched
on open house outreach meetings that were held in June 2024.
Slide 43 detailed what was heard from the public during the open
house meetings. In response to Chair McCabe, he agreed that
frontage roads can be beneficial. He moved to slide 44, which
explained the plan for future public and stakeholder engagement
related to Sterling Highway improvements.
3:13:16 PM
MR. NOBLE, in response to Representative Vance, talked about
considerations for creating pathways along highway safety
corridors, including space, cost, potential frontage roads, and
maintenance.
3:16:44 PM
MR. BOWLAND related that the department is continuing to
coordinate regarding the request for a pathway under the highway
[in Representative Vance's district]. Issues to address include
ultimate ownership and responsibility for maintaining the
pathway and the timing of pathway improvements in terms of
connection to the system. He said he could get back to
Representative Vance regarding further questions related to the
desired project.
3:21:01 PM
MS. BOSIN, in response to Chair McCabe, said that traffic safety
corridors are analyzed and adjusted every year they are in
effect.
MR. BOWLAND added that the highway safety improvement program is
a good opportunity for nominating projects.
3:24:36 PM
CHAIR MCCABE opened public testimony on the presentation.
3:24:59 PM
KRYSTAL HOKE, representing self, emphasized the importance of
the work being done by the Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities.
3:27:39 PM
CARRIE HARRIS, representing self, shared her understanding that
it is problematic to have driveways going straight in to a
highway. Further, she suggested adding more signage to make
drivers aware of both their speed and the people living along
the highway.
3:32:25 PM
JEFF THALMAN, representing self, testified that he takes issue
with the fact that there have been 240 moose killed in the last
year alone [due to vehicle accidents].
3:35:36 PM
CHAIR MCCABE, after ascertaining there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony.
3:36:21 PM
MR. APRIL concluded the presentation on slide 45, which
emphasized pillars of safety that should be observed to lower
the risk of automotive accidents.
3:37:28 PM
CHAIR MCCABE commented on the importance of driving rested and
safe.
3:38:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE thanked the presenters.
3:39:43 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:39
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Testimony.Weeks.7.11.24.pdf |
HTRA 7/11/2024 1:00:00 PM |
DOT/DPS Traffic Corridor Safety |
| Testimony.Woods.7.11.24.pdf |
HTRA 7/11/2024 1:00:00 PM |
DOT/DPS Traffic Corridor Safety |
| CityHomer.ResolutionEmail.7.11.24.pdf |
HTRA 7/11/2024 1:00:00 PM |
DOT DPS Traffic Safety Corridor Presentation HTRA |
| HTRA Alaska 2024 Summer Safety Hearing 7.11.24.pdf |
HTRA 7/11/2024 1:00:00 PM |
|
| GirdwoodCommunityLetter.7.11.24.pdf |
HTRA 7/11/2024 1:00:00 PM |
|
| DOT Response HTRA Alaska Summer Safety Hearing Follow-up.7.26.24.pdf |
HTRA 7/11/2024 1:00:00 PM |