Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/12/1996 01:35 PM Senate TRA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE TRANSPORTATION
March 12, 1996
1:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Steve Rieger, Chairman
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Al Adams
Senator Georgianna Lincoln (via teleconference from Fairbanks)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Robin Taylor, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan
WITNESS REGISTER
Joseph Perkins, Commissioner
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801-7898
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed STIP and answered questions.
John Tolley, Chief
Planning & Administrative Services
Central Region
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
PO Box 196900
Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6900
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions.
Martin Ott, Chief
Planning & Administrative Services
Northern Region
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
2301 Peger Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-5316
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions.
Gary Hayden, System Director
Marine Highway System
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801-7898
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 96-5, SIDE A
STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
CHAIRMAN RIEGER called the Senate Transportation meeting to order
at 1:35 p.m. and invited Commissioner Perkins to begin his overview
of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
Number 010
JOSEPH PERKINS, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation &
Public Facilities, began by introducing other members of the
department who were present. Commissioner Perkins began his
discussion with the Needs List that was published in November of
1994. The Needs List is the basic program for DOT which includes
the STIP, the Aviation Improvement Program, the Ports & Harbors
Program, and facilities. Public comment has been heard on the
draft book and a revised book will be published within the next 30
days. This upcoming book will specify the final needs of Alaska.
The STIP, a three year spending plan for federal highways and
federal transit authority funding, is one portion of the Needs
List. Commissioner Perkins emphasized that the STIP is fiscally
constrained to a predicted funding level, $215-$220 million for FY
96 which is a federal contribution. Hopefully, the same constraint
would be used in FY 97. The program that apportions this money,
ISTEA, is only considered for 1996 and 1997. Commissioner Perkins
said that funding for 1998 is assumed to be at the same level, but
there is no way to know before October of 1997. The STIP is also
based upon the Governor's 1995 Transportation Initiative. The STIP
follows federal guidelines and regulations; there are constraints
on what is placed in the STIP as well as how it is organized.
092
Commissioner Perkins pointed out that within the STIP there is a
section for AMATS (Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation
Study) which is developed by AMATS and included as an addendum.
AMATS is given a lump sum in which they must select projects within
that sum. He believed that the draft of that program was
available. AMATS will be included in the federal submission as an
addendum because Anchorage is a federally chartered metropolitan
planning organization. With regards to AMATS, the department's
responsibility is to establish a funding limit.
The STIP contains projects which are for the National Highway
System (NHS). The NHS bill was authorized by Congress last year
and specific roadways in Alaska were designated as part of the NHS.
The federal government has mandated the NHS which is basically a
replacement for the old interstate system. The STIP also contains
the Community Transportation & Economic Development Program, the
Trails & Recreational Access for Alaska (TRAAK), and the Federal
Lands Highway Program. The Federal Lands Highway Program consists
of the Indian Reservation Road Program, the Forest Highway Program,
and the Parks Road and Parkway Program.
Number 135
The NHS is established for interstate routes, strategic highways,
access to intermodal facilities, rural and urban connectors, and
routes to international borders. Most of the ferries and many of
the terminals in Alaska are included as part of the NHS.
Commissioner Perkins explained that with regards to the NHS, the
focus of the STIP is to bring the system up to minimal standards.
The minimal standards are as follows: 12 foot lanes with 4-8 foot
shoulders depending upon the area, the elimination of 15 and 20
mile per hour curves, and the replacement of old and aging bridges.
Under the NHS program, a regional evaluation was done on all the
routes. The evaluation looked for deficient widths, needed grade
reductions, alignments, capacity constraints, and level of use in
order to determine how much would be required to upgrade Alaska's
entire NHS. The evaluations were also reviewed at the state level.
Finally, DOT developed a program to upgrade NHS and published a
draft book in September 1995 detailing what would be necessary to
upgrade the NHS to a minimal standard. Since that time there have
been additions to the work needed on the NHS. In order to bring
NHS routes up to the minimum standard, $1.72 billion will have to
be spent. Within the Governor's Transportation Initiative, the
department decided to allocate $120 million per year to the NHS
upgrade. If the $120 million per year allocation could be
maintained, the upgrade of the NHS routes to a minimal standard
would still take 14 and a half years. Commissioner Perkins noted
that this amount did include rehabilitation projects. Some of the
biggest and most expensive projects have been left to last.
Number 193
Commissioner Perkins explained that the Community Transportation
and Economic Development (CTP) portion of the program is comprised
of local, community roads, non NHS highways, some ferry routes that
are not designated in the NHS, transit projects, and transportation
supporting economic development. The CTP portion is needs-based.
The department solicited project nominations from local
governments, agencies, and other groups. Projects were received
and evaluated at the regional level. The highest projects,
Priority I and II, were then sent to the department where a project
evaluation board convened. This board consisted of one deputy
commissioner, three regional directors, the director of the Marine
Highway System, and the director of the statewide planning. The
board graded and ranked the projects. The Community Transportation
and Economic Development program allocated funds to the ranked
projects. This program is funded at $80 million per year.
Commissioner Perkins pointed out that the selection criteria
favored community projects, 71 percent of the $80 million were
allocated for community projects. Remote villages received 13
percent, transit received four percent, and community road needs
received 54 percent of the funding. Also 29 percent of the funding
served statewide travel. Alaska has many state roads that are not
included in the NHS for example, the Denali and the Taylor
Highways. State roads not included in the NHS received about 20
percent of the community funds, ferries received about one percent,
and new access projects received about nine percent. The new
access project is the Whittier road.
Number 245
Commissioner Perkins continued his overview with the TRAAK portion
of the STIP. As ISTEA mandates, the department must allocate $40.4
million for roadway enhancements in 1996 and 1997. The department
choose those enhancement projects that would support TRAAK such as
pulloffs for trail heads. In developing the TRAAK project list,
the department is looking at a comprehensive development of the
highway corridors. Commissioner Perkins reiterated that ISTEA
requires that this money be spent for enhancement projects. The
TRAAK program is funded at $20 million per year and the selection
criteria again favored community projects which received 58 percent
of the funding. Traveler oriented, roadside projects received
about 38 percent of the funding of which a couple million will be
spent on creating a nice facility for eagle viewing in Haines. The
remaining portion of the TRAAK funding, about four percent, is
allocated to winter trail markings in the bush. Commissioner
Perkins directed the committee to the pie chart of the TRAAK
allocations in the draft STIP book.
Number 282
Commissioner Perkins used charts with color coded dots signifying
the year in which the work on Alaska's NHS projects would begin and
in which areas. A cluster of projects South of Anchorage and up
the Glenn Highway, on the Parks Highway, and the Alaska Highway was
illustrated by the chart. This cluster illustrated the
department's priority of upgrading the main routes of commerce.
With regard to the CTP projects, another chart was used to
illustrate the distribution of the CTP projects. The next chart
represented where the TRAAK projects would be located statewide.
The NHS chart used red to signify NHS routes in Alaska.
Commissioner Perkins noted that the Dalton Highway was not
originally included in the NHS, but the department had that 500
miles added last year. He emphasized the importance of the
inclusion of the Dalton Highway because in the future the federal
government may only fund NHS routes. Other routes that have been
added to the NHS are the Whittier Project, Little Access Road
through Nenana to the port of Nenana, the portion of the road in
Juneau to the rock dump. Alaska has approximately 2,000 miles
designated roads in the NHS and 1,900 are on the Marine Highway
System. Commissioner Perkins noted that Seward, Whittier and other
Marine Highways are not designated in the NHS. Those portions of
the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) that are included in the
NHS are main lines.
Number 330
Commissioner Perkins pointed out that the STIP also includes other
ISTEA funds that are allocated in Alaska. The BIA programming for
bush projects will receive $31 million in FY 96 and 97 and the
Federal Lands Highway Program receives $17.2 million for various
projects listed in the draft book. Commissioner Perkins directed
the committee to the time line in the draft book which details the
efforts to date. The Needs List and the STIP will be finalized
April 8-12, 1996 and be sent to the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA). Commissioner Perkins did not anticipate many changes;
therefore, a legislative budget request has been submitted for new
projects in the STIP. He directed the committee to the chart in
the draft which illustrates the FHWA funding from 1985-1998. FHWA
funding in the late 1980s averaged $150 million which increased to
$220 million in 1992 when ISTEA came into effect. Since 1992, the
funding under ISTEA has remained fairly constant. The last page of
the draft has a chart which illustrates regional funding levels.
Commissioner Perkins pointed out that the AMHS funding level
increases considerably in 1997 due to a $50 million payment for a
new vessel currently, under design. The increase in funding in
1996 for the Central Region reflects the Canyon Creek Project, a
more than $20 million project. The department is balancing the
workload between regions, projects would be transferred into a
region that does not have sufficient work. For example, some
airport projects have been transferred from the central region to
the northern region. In conclusion, Commissioner Perkins offered
to answer any questions.
Number 378
SENATOR ADAMS asked if Anchorage receives a percentage of the lump
sum initially. COMMISSIONER PERKINS replied no. Commissioner
Perkins explained that the ISTEA language has a metropolitan
planning organization formula from which Alaska was exempted. The
following steps lead to the AMATS sum: the six year list of
projects for AMATS was graded and placed in with all the other
projects then the total amount of all the projects was determined
and divided by six. The allocation to AMATS for CTP is $17.5
million per year. Commissioner Perkins said that the same was done
with TRAAK and the AMATS allocation is $5.5 million per year. The
total allocation then is about $23 million which is close to the
historical average.
In response to Senator Adams, COMMISSIONER PERKINS said that the
Indian Road Program to which he referred earlier is the BIA
program. SENATOR ADAMS asked if the commissioner could provide him
with a scoring system report he could forward to interested
communities. COMMISSIONER PERKINS passed out a general information
sheet on scoring and agreed to provide a more specific report for
Senator Adams.
Number 413
SENATOR ADAMS pointed out that the TRAAK program included roadside
rest stops; could that include boat ramps? COMMISSIONER PERKINS
indicated that boat ramps probably should be included if they are
not. SENATOR ADAMS remarked that often rivers and lakes are the
only access into some communities.
SENATOR ADAMS believed that without funding for auxiliary services,
the Dalton Highway inclusion on the NHS would be problematic. Are
communications, gas stations, pullouts, and protection of the
wildlife and the pipeline going to be funded?
COMMISSIONER PERKINS informed the committee that over $100 million
is scheduled to rebuild the Dalton Highway which would add rest
areas and roadside work. The Governor has appointed a Dalton
Highway Task Force to review the master plans and other problems
with the Dalton Highway. The maintenance, which would include the
communication issue, of the Dalton Highway falls under the
maintenance program of DOT. He emphasized that he was not happy
with the funding of the maintenance program. The communications on
the Dalton Highway are between all the DOT elements and the Alyeska
Pipeline. So far, the emergency response has been good. He did
view the increased traffic as a problem and noted that Commissioner
Otte would probably assign more Fish and Wildlife people on the
Dalton Highway. Commissioner Perkins informed the committee that
he had driven the Dalton Highway and believed it to be one of the
better gravel roads. He was impressed by the courtesy shown by all
drivers; it is truly an Alaskan cooperative effort.
Number 463
CHAIRMAN RIEGER said that was not his experience on the Dalton
Highway.
SENATOR ADAMS pointed out that money would be necessary to fund
travel so that communities could participate. COMMISSIONER PERKINS
said he would pass that on to Commissioner Shively in the
Department of Natural Resources.
SENATOR GREEN asked why there was a change in the funding of the
Old Glenn Highway Matanuska River Bridge. JOHN TOLLEY, Planning
Chief in the Central Region, explained that the new estimate is a
better cost estimate. The funding is also being used in additional
areas such as placing utilities on the bridge, pullouts, and
pedestrian facilities. Mr. Tolley said that the project should be
obligated this fall and construction would probably begin next
year.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked if Commissioner Perkins' previous testimony
was that when ISTEA came into affect, the amount of FHWA funds
increased 50 percent, $150 million to $220 million. COMMISSIONER
PERKINS replied yes. CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked if Commissioner
Perkins' testimony that the amount allocated to AMATS was in line
with the former amount that had been allocated when it was a share
of the $150 million total state funding. COMMISSIONER PERKINS
deferred to Mr. Tolley.
Number 490
JOHN TOLLEY clarified that the current funding allocation is a
little greater than it has been historically. Historically, there
was not an allocation and the projects were not ranked on a
statewide basis in order to establish a specific target for AMATS.
In the past few years, AMATS has received $16-18 million for non
NHS projects. CHAIRMAN RIEGER inquired as to how much of that was
during the ISTEA era. JOHN TOLLEY said that it was all when ISTEA
was in effect.
SENATOR ADAMS inquired as to how an Anchorage legislator would
participate in determining the priority of which roads should be
constructed or reconstructed. JOHN TOLLEY explained that such a
person would inform the AMATS committee of the needs and concerns
of the individual. The AMATS Policy Committee is the decision
making body of AMATS. The committee consists of the Anchorage
Mayor, two Assembly Members, a DOT representative, and a DEC
representative who are all charged under federal rules with setting
programs for AMATS.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER understood that the NHS was not determined by
AMATS, only the local roads and TRAAK projects. JOHN TOLLEY
explained that the non NHS roads are to be developed in
coordination and cooperation with the local government. Basically,
the local government would develop projects and merely consult DOT
on its priorities. The NHS requires that the state develops the
priorities in cooperation with local governments. Cooperation as
defined by Alaska's FHWA, means that the state must receive local
consensus support for the NHS program. COMMISSIONER PERKINS
interjected that the money would have to stay in the NHS, the money
could not be moved to the CTP.
Number 525
CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked if the Seward Highway all the way to Fifth
Avenue was on the NHS. COMMISSIONER PERKINS replied yes.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER noticed that the northern end of the Seward Highway
is inactive in the six year STIP, although, that is the most
congested part of Anchorage. COMMISSIONER PERKINS informed the
committee that there is a project scheduled for next year to relay
the pavement on the Seward Highway from Huffman Road to 36th.
Another project on Tudor from Old Seward Highway to Boniface is
also scheduled.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER emphasized that a traffic improvement is necessary
not new asphalt. There is much congestion in this area. JOHN
TOLLEY stated that there is an additional ISTEA requirement with a
major transportation investment on a controlled access facility
involving large sums of money. A major investment study must be
done before major improvements can begin. Mr. Tolley noted that
Anchorage is currently pursuing the study. There is funding in the
NHS plan to do that study.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS said that the major investment study has
proven to be a disaster. The department has not yet done such a
study. Furthermore, New York City's experience has resulted in
three years to even get the study going. In Commissioner Perkins'
opinion, the new ISTEA will not include this study; however, the
department is still beginning the study just in case.
Number 563
In response to Chairman Rieger, JOHN TOLLEY explained that any
additional lane or grade separated intersection on a controlled
access facility or one that impacts a controlled access facility
would be considered a major investment. The Seward Highway up past
Tudor is a controlled access. CHAIRMAN RIEGER pointed out that the
portion needing improvement is north of Tudor. JOHN TOLLEY said
that the existing Long Range Transportation Plan for AMATS calls
for grade separation through the midtown area. CHAIRMAN RIEGER
said that he did not see that in the six year plan. JOHN TOLLEY
clarified that some of the preliminary funding is present to begin
the major investment study and preliminary engineering.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER pointed out that Mr. Tolley had just said that a
major investment study would not be necessary for the area north of
Tudor. JOHN TOLLEY did not mean to give that impression. That
area is currently not a controlled access area; however, it is
intended to be a controlled access facility under the existing
AMATS Long Range Transportation Plan. A major investment analysis
is necessary because the area would become a controlled access
area.
SENATOR LINCOLN believed that any DOT plan for the state would
impact practically all state business which could impact how
education is provided. She expressed difficulty with the shortness
of the three year plan. Senator Lincoln discussed her experiences
on the Dalton Highway which were opposite those of Commissioner
Perkins.
TAPE 96-5, SIDE B
Number 584
SENATOR LINCOLN assured Commissioner Perkins that his one nice
experience does not occur on a regular basis on the Dalton Highway.
Furthermore, there is a massive garbage problem on this road. The
Dalton Highway is not a safe road. She echoed Senator Adams'
concerns with the need for auxiliary services such as pullouts.
How would DOT make the Dalton Highway safe and monitor it? Senator
Lincoln believed that there would be more development in that area.
She did not know why the Dalton Highway was being opened to this
extent. She asked if the Denali Highway was included in the NHS;
what about the Copper River Highway? She also asked about the
McCarthy Road and the plans surrounding it? When planning
transportation, are the off-road communities that use rivers for
transportation being reviewed as a marine highway?
Number 539
COMMISSIONER PERKINS informed the committee that DOT is trying to
reduce maintenance costs wherever possible. Hard surfacing roads
is a way to decrease maintenance costs. Commissioner Perkins
pointed out that the most expensive material on the road during the
construction period is the crushed rock. Many of Alaska's road,
like the Dalton Highway, lose all of the fines from the surface of
the road and the rocks act like marbles and are lost in the ditches
and shoulders. The subgrade is left to drive on and it is
impossible to maintain. Commissioner Perkins said that in the
1980s the legislature had to appropriate about $26 million in order
to surface the Dalton Highway. The long range plan is to pave
whatever possible in order to maintain the gravel surface. This
applies to the Denali Highway as well. The first paving project on
the Denali Highway, from milepost 80-104, is scheduled for FY 97.
This portion of the Denali Highway is one of the worst and is very
expensive to maintain. Commissioner Perkins discussed another plan
for the Denali Highway scheduled in FY 99. He clarified that
pavement meant asphalt with chips on the top which would cut
maintenance costs because of the easy repair with this type road.
With regards to the Copper Highway, there is a contract to repair
the pier. The state matching money is included in the department's
supplemental request. The department received $2.2 million in
emergency disaster money from the federal government as a special
appropriation to repair the bridge pier. The bridge will then be
passable. Commissioner Perkins informed the committee that a
transportation study of Prince Williams Sound will begin in about
three months in order to determine how to serve Cordova with
transportation. He predicted that the department would have
recommendations for this area by this time next year.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked where the money went that was appropriated
for the Copper River Highway. COMMISSIONER PERKINS said that the
money went to other projects which he could not specify. MARTIN
OTT, Planning Chief for the Northern Region, clarified that the
original appropriation was for preliminary design work. Mr. Ott
believed that all of that was spent when developing EIS. Mr. Ott
did not recall an appropriation for construction.
Number 484
COMMISSIONER PERKINS noted that there is a project to upgrade the
McCarthy Road which is scheduled with funding for FY 99, 00, and
01. The department is working closely with the Park Service on
this road. The department wants to pave the road as well as have
shoulders that will support bike riders and automobiles that pull
off the road. Commissioner Perkins acknowledged that everyone does
not agree with that concept. He indicated that a maintenance
problem would be created if the road was not paved. With most of
these roads, the paving can be funded by the federal government
which would save state money.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if the communities of McCarthy and Kennicot
want the road to be paved. COMMISSIONER PERKINS did not know what
the communities preferred. However, the state should not invest in
McCarthy Road if it is not paved because approximately $.5 million
in maintenance costs would be incurred.
SENATOR LINCOLN stressed that the road is for the residents of
those communities and they should be a part of the design and
implementation of a transportation system in their community.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS agreed with Senator Lincoln. Whether or not
to use a hard surface, DOT is not going to build roads that would
increase maintenance costs. The department would probably look for
someone else to maintain a road that is not hard surfaced. MARTIN
OTT indicated that this program is in the initial stages. The
department will be working with the Parks Service and the people of
the communities with regard to the standards established for the
McCarthy Road.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if community meetings had been held in
McCarthy and Kennicot in order to determine the type of road they
want. MARTIN OTT said that he had numerous correspondence from the
people of McCarthy. The people of McCarthy by and large do not
support a paved road.
Number 444
SENATOR LINCOLN noted that these communities are in her district.
The communities want to improve their roads. She expressed concern
with the state having the money to build an infrastructure once an
area is opened.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER pointed out that the STIP includes $15 million for
the construction of McCarthy Road; what kind of road would that
cover? MARTIN OTT specified that the road would be a 22-24 foot
surface along the existing alignment with new surfacing, some
pullouts, waysides, and facilities for the travelers.
SENATOR LINCOLN reiterated that if a transportation plan is
developed, the impacts on resource development in the area as well
as the impact to the state should be reviewed.
In response to Senator Adams, COMMISSIONER PERKINS said that the
new $50 million ferry would come on-line in 1998. SENATOR ADAMS
recognized that the marine highway portion of the NHS does not
include the ferry systems in Homer, Seward, and Valdez. However,
where roads exist most urban centers include roads that go between
communities in the NHS; why is that the case? COMMISSIONER PERKINS
did not know. Commissioner Perkins noted that he was not present
when the initial NHS was developed. It seems that all the main
lines of the ferry where included.
SENATOR ADAMS stressed that the marine highway goes into Valdez,
Homer, and Seward and that should also be part of Alaska's NHS.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS did not believe that much could be done at
this stage. Perhaps, those could be nominated and would have to go
back to Congress. Commissioner Perkins agreed to work on that
issue.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER requested that Commissioner Perkins provide the
committee with traffic counts on the following NHS segments: the
Richardson, the Parks, the Seward, the Glenn and outside of those
urban areas. COMMISSIONER PERKINS agreed to provide what the
department had on those areas. CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked if the
minimal standards that had been mentioned earlier would be a
standard for all roads that are improved.
Number 384
COMMISSIONER PERKINS explained that the NHS would be designed for
commerce which means truck traffic. For example, the Canyon Creek
bridge is one of the most dangerous areas for trucks which is why
that project was upgraded. The NHS standard should allow the
movement of commerce in Alaska. Therefore, a standard for grades,
curves, and bridges would be established. Commissioner Perkins
specified that those roads under ISTEA, not on the NHS, would allow
much flexibility with the standards. There is also flexibility
under the NHS in the mountain areas where prohibitive costs would
allow four foot shoulders. Commissioner Perkins reiterated that
the NHS standard would be for the safe movement of commerce.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER summarized that on a NHS road there must be 12 foot
lanes with at least a four foot shoulder. COMMISSIONER PERKINS did
not know if the federal government required that, but he did not
want to do less than those standards. Commissioner Perkins
believed that these roads would be rebuilt once due to the expense.
A transportation system looking ahead 25-40 years should be
developed because realignment and rebuilding probably will not
occur before then.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER indicated that perhaps, some of the less travelled
roads would be better served with pullouts rather than wider roads.
Often the problem is many vehicles following a slow moving vehicle
rather than high speed traffic. COMMISSIONER PERKINS mentioned
that third lanes will be constructed in many areas. For instance,
the Glenn Highway, which does not have any shoulders, would have
passing lanes going uphill and wide shoulders where economical.
Number 341
SENATOR GREEN asked if the previously requested status report of
those projects that had been funded last year had been provided.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS said that had been provided. The STIP
includes some of the 1996 projects that have been previously
authorized. Those projects that have not been authorized have been
returned to the legislature for authorization this year.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER added the Thane Road portion of the NHS to the list
of those traffic counts that he requested. Chairman Rieger
informed the committee that he had received correspondence from
people who believed that $400,000 would be included in the STIP for
the Prince of Wales ferry design or development. These people are
concerned that the money is not present in the STIP.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS believed that it was a matter of timing. The
department did not receive the Prince of Wales' feasibility study
until a month ago, after the selections had been completed and
placed for public review. In fact, the Prince of Wales study is
being reviewed now.
Number 309
GARY HAYDEN, Marine Highway System, informed the committee that the
City of Craig is the manager of the Prince of Wales project. The
request was not for $400,000; the City of Craig requested $29
million for the total project costs. When the City of Craig gave
its presentation about a month ago, discussion ensued about the
money available to give them. The department let the City of Craig
know that there was not $29 million to be given, so the amount was
decreased to $13 million for phase 1. Then the City of Craig
indicated that if $13 million was not possible, perhaps $10 million
would be available to build the boat. Finally, the City of Craig
said if there was not money for the boat, then money for the design
would be desirable. Those were conversations, but nothing formal
was submitted along those lines by the City of Craig. At the end
of the reconnaissance phase, the City of Craig requested $29
million for the entire project. Mr. Hayden noted that the City of
Craig did come after the projects had been scored. The project is
a Community Transportation Project which did get scored late and is
in the Needs List. However, the project did not score well with
the other statewide needs and is not present on the six year list.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER informed everyone that the letter said that there
was a meeting with the FHWA on January 25, 1996 where the project
was represented as being in the STIP; is that incorrect? GARY
HAYDEN was unaware of such a representation. Mr. Hayden specified
that $250,000 for the reconnaissance phase was funded. The City of
Craig was told that the project would be on the Needs List and it
is, but he did not believe that anyone said it would be included in
the STIP. Mr. Hayden mentioned that sometimes people do not
realize the difference between the Needs List and the STIP.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked if the Prince of Wales ferry project was not
high on the evaluation of overall transportation needs or did the
$400,000 request not score high? GARY HAYDEN explained that the
$13 million request was scored which did not compete well.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER noticed that the Governor's submission includes
airport relocations; could you discuss what the criteria is for
airport relocation? COMMISSIONER PERKINS said that he was not
prepared to testify on airports today, but could be prepared and
return.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER requested an estimate of the amount of time and
money necessary to fast track a major transportation study. There
has been no budget being set aside for the Seward Highway project.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS agreed to provide that information.
Number 233
CHAIRMAN RIEGER noted that there was a letter from the AGC which
requested an extended comment period on the STIP; is that possible?
COMMISSIONER PERKINS said that it is possible, but time is running
short. The 1996 construction program is already occurring and an
extended comment period could stop some projects from being
advertised.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER said that a list of the construction projects for
1996 had been requested previously; can that be provided?
COMMISSIONER PERKINS pointed out that it should be those projects
in the STIP that are listed as four. MARTIN OTT clarified that
those projects would be obligated as far as the federal funds.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS explained that some of the projects do not get
advertised until September or October; if the project has a four
then a contract will occur in 1996.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked if any of those projects need this year's
capital budget or are they prior authorizations? COMMISSIONER
PERKINS said that there are projects that need this year's
authorization and also the federal highway approval of the STIP.
SENATOR ADAMS asked if Chairman Rieger was going to delay anything
because of the letter from the AGC regarding extending the comment
period. CHAIRMAN RIEGER said he wanted to convey their comments
and determine if extending the comment period was even possible.
There being no further business before the committee, the meeting
was adjourned at 2:55 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|