Legislature(2025 - 2026)ANCH LIO DENALI Rm
07/22/2025 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview(s): Summer Construction Outlook and Federal Match Funding Veto Update | |
| Executive Session | |
| 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
July 22, 2025
1:04 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Ashley Carrick, Co-Chair
Representative Ted Eischeid, Co-Chair
Representative Genevieve Mina
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Elexie Moore
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Kevin McCabe
Representative Cathy Tilton
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW(S): Summer Construction Outlook and Federal Match
Funding Veto Update
- HEARD
EXECUTIVE SESSION
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
No witnesses to record
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:08:37 PM
CO-CHAIR CARRICK called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:08 p.m. Representatives Mina,
Stutes, Carrick, and Eischeid were present at the call to order.
^OVERVIEW(S): Summer Construction Outlook and Federal Match
Funding Veto Update
1:09:04 PM
CO-CHAIR CARRICK announced that the only order of business would
be an overview titled "Summer Construction Outlook and Federal
Match Funding Veto Update" by the Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities.
[Commissioner Ryan Anderson and other members of the Department
of Transportation and Public Facilities, as invited testifiers,
were absent from the meeting and an executive session was held.]
1:09:54 PM
CO-CHAIR CARRICK stated that the purpose of the committee
meeting was to discuss the impacts of the governor's veto of
state matching funds for the Federal Highway Program and the
Federal Aviation Program. She noted that the amount of the
matching funds totaled $62 million. She stated that Amendment 2
to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) was also
scheduled to be discussed, along with DOT&PF's redistribution of
funds. She explained that the vetoed state funding would have a
90 percent federal match, or around $600 million. She continued
that because of the veto, the legislature would have to make up
around $70 million in its supplemental budget for projects. She
added that this would just be one of several budget issues with
the state.
CO-CHAIR CARRICK stated that the committee has received
conflicting communication from the commissioner and deputy
commissioner of DOT&PF about upcoming transportation projects.
She noted that an error in the previous year's STIP has already
resulted in a cut in federal funding. She further discussed
appropriated funds, expressing the understanding that the Juneau
Access Road project had been put forward without the necessary
feasibility study. She stated that because of this, and
opposition from local communities, the funding was
reappropriated to other transportation projects; however, these
funds have now been vetoed.
CO-CHAIR CARRICK reiterated that there were no representatives
from DOT&PF at the meeting. She stated that she would quote
several questions for the record directed to DOT&PF. For the
first question, she asked whether there is a plan and timeframe
for the Federal Highway Program's review of Amendment 2 to STIP,
and whether this timeline would be concurrent with the Federal
Transit Administration's timeline, so the funds could be
secured. Next, she questioned the difference between the
version of Amendment 2 in the public notice and the version
submitted to the Federal Highway Administration. Concerning the
appropriation of Federal Aviation Program funds for projects in
the northern region of the state, she questioned which of these
projects would be subject to the veto. She continued,
questioning the amount of funds that would still be available
for aviation and highway projects as of July 1, 2025. Next, she
questioned whether there would be funding shortfalls for the
projects slated for 2026. She asked about the impact if no
supplemental budget were made to cover the vetoed funds.
CO-CHAIR CARRICK questioned the reasoning for the veto
concerning the Juneau Access Road project, as the project was
under the initial bid process at the time. She questioned
whether a contract has been awarded for this project. She
questioned whether this project is more important than the gain
of $270 million in a federal match. She asked about the status
of the feasibility study and whether there would be funding for
this. She expressed the understanding that the department is
pursuing this project regardless. Without an emergency action
by the legislature, she expressed the understanding that the
federal shortfalls from the veto would not be made up in the
current year's budget or for fiscal year 2026.
CO-CHAIR CARRICK stated that DOT&PF has received these
questions, with a timeline for the response. She expressed the
opinion that this has significant impacts for all types of
transportation across the state.
1:19:30 PM
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID expressed disappointment that Commissioner
Ryan Anderson was not able to attend the current committee
meeting. He added that the committee had not been given an
earlier notice of his unavailability. He discussed a previous
meeting he had had with the commissioner, as it had been
productive. He expressed the hope that he could continue the
conversation on transportation issues in East Anchorage. He
reiterated the reasons for calling the current meeting,
explaining that the legislature had reallocated funding to
balance the state's budget, and this was so the state could meet
the requirement to match federal funds for critical
transportation projects. He noted that this concerns the
required $60 million match to receive the federal funding. He
argued that the federal funding, along with the state match,
would provide benefits to all Alaskans. He spoke in support of
holding an executive session to discuss the absence of the
commissioner.
^EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
1:22:34 PM
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID moved and asked unanimous consent that the
House Transportation Standing Committee go into executive
session under Uniform Rule 22(b)(2) for matters that may, by
law, be required to be confidential. He asked that the
following persons remain in the room or online: the House
Transportation Standing Committee and staff and other
legislators not on the committee. There being no objection, it
was so ordered.
1:23:06 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:23 p.m. to 1:59 p.m. for
the purpose of an executive session.
1:59:03 PM
CO-CHAIR CARRICK called the meeting back to order and delivered
committee announcements.
2:00:09 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:00
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 06.17.2025 DOTPF Update on Federal Match and Program Delivery.pdf |
HTRA 7/22/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| 02.03.2025 Letter to Senator Bjorkman, Update on DOTPF Construction Program.pdf |
HTRA 7/22/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| DOTPF Projects Awarded 10.01.2024-06.30.2025.pdf |
HTRA 7/22/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| 07.23.2025 STIP Amendment 2 Approval .pdf |
HTRA 7/22/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| STIP Amend 2 Match-Related Project Changes.pdf |
HTRA 7/22/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| 07.18.2025 Letter to Transportation Committees.pdf |
HTRA 7/22/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| 07.25.2025 DOT Letter to House.pdf |
HTRA 7/22/2025 1:00:00 PM |