02/23/2001 01:35 PM Senate TRA
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+ teleconferenced
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
Anchorage, Alaska
February 23, 2001
1:35 p.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Presentation: Alaska's Future Transportation Needs
TAPES
01-6, SIDES A & B
01-7, SIDES A & B
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman John Cowdery called the Senate Transportation Committee
meeting order to at 1:30 p.m.
PRESENT
Committee members present were Senators John Cowdery, Jerry Ward,
Robin Taylor, Gary Wilken, Kim Elton. Senators Loren Leman, Dave
Donley, and Representatives Hugh Fate and Vic Kohring were also
present.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
Chairman Cowdery reminded attendees that the purpose of this
meeting was to take a serious look at Alaska's transportation needs
over the next 15 to 20 years. Leaders from Alaska's engineering
and transportation community were invited to present. He pointed
out that state officials were not invited to present; his goal is
to hear from the professional engineering community. He further
stated that the meeting was being videotaped and that he would be
taking copies of the tapes back to Washington, D.C. next week. He
urged presenters to be candid, realizing that many consult and
contract with the state. He scheduled this meeting for the purpose
of bringing forth ideas and projects from the best minds and with
the best interest of the State of Alaska in mind.
[Highlights of the presentations follow.]
PRESENTATIONS
MR. BILL ROBERTSON, R & M Consultants
Highlights:
• Major bottleneck in Anchorage on the Glenn and Seward Highways.
These need to be corrected. They will be very expensive due to
right of way and utility relocations
• Alaska needs to build some "Big" projects:
North South Corridor Hillside to Muldoon
Potters Creek that the Hillside
Mr. Robertson also talked about Alaska's ports and harbors.
Presently we are giving ports back to the local communities.
There is no federal funding and these facilities are degrading.
• The Port of Anchorage is very important to the state as most
cargo destined to Alaska flows through the port
• Alaska needs to pay attention to Alaska's 400 smaller airports.
They are the lifeline to rural Alaska. Not enough funding comes
from the FAA each year.
•The work load generated by the STIP should be made consistent so
there would be an even number of projects each year instead of
large peaks and valleys.
MR. TED TRUEBLOOD, Tryck Nyman & Hayes
Highlights:
• Planned to speak to rail and ports
• Alaska needs to improve the commuter use of the Alaska Railroad
from the Wasilla area to Anchorage
• Large rail projects should also be considered;
Extend the Alaska Railroad to Canada
Extend the railroad to Northwest Alaska
A spur line needs to be built from Healy to Wonder Lake in
Denali Park
• There is a major need to improve local ports - most with no
road access
• Major expansion is needed at the Port of Anchorage. This
expansion would build another dock capable of handling the large
ship now under construction and future cruise line visits
RICK SMITH, VECO and DENNIS NOTTINGHAM, Peratrovich, Nottingham &
Drage
Highlights:
• Knik Arm Crossing
• Fire Island
• Denali Park Access
• Copper River Highway
• Whittier Small Boat Harbor Expansion
• Nottingham, stressed his 40 years of experience as an Alaskan
engineer and indicated that we do not build roads we concentrate
on city streets
• He stated that the 12,000 ft. Knik Arm crossing could be built
for approximately $300 million dollars and that it would only
take 20 engineers to design the project
STEWART OSGOOD, DOWL Engineers
Highlights:
• Recreation access has been very positive
• Alaska needs access to gravel sources in rural Alaska
• Gambell street in Anchorage from th to th should be re-built
205
underground
There's a need for coordinated regional planning
JOHN AHO, CH2M Hill
Highlights:
• Reported on his firms work on the NW Alaska Transportation
Study
• The NW Study is looking at developing transportation corridors
from mineral rich areas to the western coast of Alaska or east to
the existing road system
• 150 previous studies have been reviewed
They are looking for projects that can be built
FRANK DILLON, Alaska Truckers Association
Highlights:
• There is a problem with the process
• There is no real active voice for truckers
• There is a need to build roads that can handle the loads
• Need to modify the STIP and speed up the process
Budget cycles need to be clearer and more concise
He also stressed that Alaska should establish a road commission
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