01/23/2024 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB141 | |
| SB129 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 141 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 129 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
January 23, 2024
1:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator James Kaufman, Chair
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Robert Myers
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator David Wilson, Vice Chair
Senator Jesse Kiehl
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 141
"An Act naming the Raymond and Esther Conquest Bridge."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 129
"An Act naming the Matt Glover Bike Path."
- MOVED SB 129 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 141
SHORT TITLE: NAMING RAYMOND & ESTHER CONQUEST BRIDGE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) HOFFMAN
05/01/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/01/23 (S) TRA, FIN
05/11/23 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
05/11/23 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
01/23/24 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 129
SHORT TITLE: MATT GLOVER BIKE PATH
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MYERS
04/14/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/14/23 (S) TRA
05/04/23 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
05/04/23 (S) Heard & Held
05/04/23 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
05/11/23 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
05/11/23 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
01/23/24 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff,
Senator James Kaufman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the summary of changes for SB 141.
SAM GREELY, Staff
Senator Hoffman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Read the sectional analysis and sponsor
statement for SB 141.
SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, District Q
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 129.
ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on SB 129.
CELIA STAPLES, representing self
Family Relation to Matt Glover
Kansas
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 129.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:32:23 PM
CHAIR JAMES KAUFMAN called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Tobin, Myers, and Chair Kaufman.
SB 141-NAMING RAYMOND & ESTHER CONQUEST BRIDGE
1:33:09 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 141
"An Act naming the Raymond and Esther Conquest Bridge."
1:33:32 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN announced that members will begin by taking up a
CS for SB 141 for a minor technical clerical change.
1:33:40 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN solicited a motion.
1:33:45 PM
SENATOR MYERS moved to adopt the committee substitute for SB
141, work order 33-LS0717\B, as the working document.
1:33:58 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
1:34:08 PM
EMMA TORKELSON, Transportation Committee Aide, Senator James
Kaufman, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained the
summary of changes for SB 141:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 141 Explanation of Changes, Version A to B
"An Act naming the Raymond and Esther Conquest
Bridge."
Section 1. Page 1, Line 4: Corrects the bridge number
being designated the Raymond and Easther Conquest
Bridge from "1802" to "1902."
1:34:37 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN withdrew his objection for adopting the CS for SB
141, work order 33-LS0717\B, as the working document.
1:34:42 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN found no further objection and SB 141, work order
33-LS0717\B was adopted.
1:35:09 PM
SAM GREELY, Staff, Senator Hoffman, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, read the sectional analysis:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Sectional Analysis
SB 141 version B
"An Act naming the Raymond and Esther Conquest
Bridge."
Section I AS 35.40.390.
AS 35.40 is amended by adding a new section to read:
Sec. 35.40.390. Raymond and Esther Conquest
Bridge. Bridge number 1902 over the Wood River between
Dillingham and Aleknagik is named the Raymond and
Esther Conquest Bridge
1:35:55 PM
MR. GREELY paraphrased the sponsor statement for SB 141:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Sponsor Statement
SB 141 Raymond and Esther Conquest Bridge
Senate Bill 141 renames Bridge 1902, the Aleknagik
Wood River Bridge to the Raymond and Esther Conquest
Bridge.
On March 22 2023, the Aleknagik City Council and the
Aleknagik Traditional council adopted a joint
resolution 23-02, requesting the Legislature change
the name of the Wood River Bridge to the Raymond and
Esther Conquest Bridge.
Raymond Conquest was born in a little village called
Apqa, in the Bethel region. His mother passed when he
was a young child. He was raised by an elderly couple
and later ended up in the Catholic orphanage at Holy
Cross. He ran away at the age of 11 and at age 13 or
14, caught a steamship from Bethel to Dillingham.
Raymond was a hard worker and lived in a one-room
shack with friends. Later, Raymond was employed as a
heavy equipment operator for the State of Alaska
Department of Transporation and Building Facilities,
building a State highway from Dillingham to Aleknagik
named the Lake Aleknagik Road. The highway is better
known as the Gateway to Wood Tikchik State Park.
Raymond later worked as a caretaker at the Nerka Lodge
known as the Second Lake. During that time, he met his
wife Esther, who would assist him with caretaking the
lodge. Raymond's next venture was in commercial
fishing. He purchased the "Ricky T" and shortly after
purchase a second boat the "Gypsy". Raymond and Esther
would fish full seasons starting in Nushagak and
Kwichak, and would later in season transfer to Togiak.
Raymond was also an avid hunter and trapper, after the
fishing season the two would hunt for moose. In the
spring Raymond would snare squirrels. Esther was
famous for her parkas and dolls. She was well known in
the Bristol Bay Region for her craft.
Esther and Raymond showed kindness and generosity to
all. They are remembered for transporting hundreds of
people back and forth from Aleknagik to Dillingham. If
there was an emergency, it was always the Conquests
taking people to the hospital any time of day or
night. In the tragic case of a loss of life, the
Conquests were there to comfort people and buy
groceries for them for weeks in times of need. Raymond
was instrumental and played a very big part in getting
the Aleknagik Wood River Bridge complete in October
2015. Raymond was quoted as saying "I will fight for
that bridge until I die". During the City of Aleknagik
2015 Bridge Ceremony, Raymond was honored by being the
first one to cross the bridge in his old blue Chevy
truck.
Raymond and Esther's presence forever shaped the
community of Aleknagik.
Please join me in supporting Senate Bill 141, naming
the Raymond and Esther Conquest Bridge.
1:37:27 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN noted that the committee had no questions for Mr.
Greely.
1:37:35 PM
At ease
1:37:49 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN reconvened the meeting and set an amendment
deadline for SB 141 on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
1:38:16 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN held SB 141 in committee.
1:38:25 PM
At ease
1:38:41 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN reconvened the meeting.
SB 129-MATT GLOVER BIKE PATH
1:38:43 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 129
"An Act naming the Matt Glover Bike Path."
This bill was previously introduced in committee on May 4, 2023.
The intention is to take public testimony and look to the will
of the committee.
1:38:59 PM
SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, District Q, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 129, explained that currently the
Department of Transportation is building a bike path from Badger
road to the Fairbanks area, where presently there is no bike or
pedestrian path; this would be the first time connecting the two
areas. The bike path should be complete by summer and is
honoring Matt Glover, who was an avid cyclist and well known in
the Fairbanks Cycling Club. Mr. Glover lived in North Pole area,
worked for the Alaskan Railroad and biked to work every day.
In October 2022 he was tragically killed in a crash on the
Richardson highway while riding to work. Naming the path is an
appropriate honor to him and a reminder about safety for
cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists on the roads, which is a
growing concern around Alaska.
1:41:05 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked Mr. Mills about the fiscal note. She pointed
out the two naming signs to be placed on either end of the bike
path and asked how the signs will be covered by a future project
in terms of fiscal impact.
1:41:33 PM
ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation
(DOT), Juneau, Alaska, replied that because the department has
an existing project at that site, the signage would be covered
under that project.
1:42:14 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked about the replacement timeframe for the
signage.
1:42:24 PM
MR. MILLS responded that normally the signage has a lifecycle
dependent on where it is and its future replacement would be
covered by the department's sign replacement program; in this
case because the signage is covered by the existing active
project, there is no additional cost and future cost would be
accounted for.
1:43:00 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN opened public testimony on SB 129.
1:43:08 PM
CELIA STAPLES, representing self, Family Relation to Matt
Glover, Kansas, thanked Senator Myers for bringing this bill
forward. She expressed her hope that committee members
understand why it is important. She affirmed that Mr. Glover was
an avid bike rider, riding 1000 miles per year. She said he will
always be her son-in-law and described him as kind, thoughtful,
generous, and helpful to those in need. He had an impact on
Fairbanks and the whole community. She contended that this path
comes too late for Mr. Glover, but not for others. She
encouraged support of SB 129.
1:45:32 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN thanked Ms. Staples for her testimony.
1:45:37 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN closed public testimony on SB 129.
1:45:45 PM
At ease
1:46:13 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN reconvened the meeting.
1:46:20 PM
SENATOR MYERS expressed his appreciation that SB 129 was moving
forward.
1:46:51 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN solicited a motion from the committee.
1:46:55 PM
SENATOR TOBIN moved to report SB 129, work order 33-LS0694\A
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
1:47:12 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN found no objection and SB 129 was reported from
the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.
1:47:20 PM
At ease
1:48:20 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN reconvened the meeting and thanked the support
staff.
1:48:52 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kaufman adjourned the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting at 1:48 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 141 Sponsor Statement 5.3.23.pdf |
STRA 5/11/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/25/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 141 |
| SB 141 Sectional Analysis v. B 5.3.23.pdf |
STRA 5/11/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/25/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 141 |
| SB 141 Explanation of Changes v. A to B.pdf |
STRA 5/11/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/25/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 141 |
| SB 141 STRA CS Work Draft v. B.pdf |
STRA 5/11/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/25/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 141 |
| SB 141 Fiscal Note DOT 1.19.24.pdf |
STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 141 |
| SB 141 Supporting Document City of Aleknagik Joint Council Meeting Minutes 3.22.23.pdf |
STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/25/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 141 |
| SB 141 Supporting Document City of Aleknagik Joint Resolution 3.22.23.pdf |
STRA 5/11/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/25/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 141 |
| SB 141 Supporting Document Raymond & Esther Conquest 3.23.23.pdf |
STRA 5/11/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/25/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 141 |
| SB 129 Sponsor Statement 4.24.23.pdf |
STRA 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |
| SB 129 Sectional Analysis v. A 4.24.23.pdf |
STRA 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |
| SB 129 Supporting Document FNSB Bikeway Paths 2022 4.24.23.pdf |
STRA 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |
| SB 129 Support Letter Fairbanks Cycle Club 4.25.23.pdf |
STRA 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |
| SB 129 Testimony Received as of 5.10.23.pdf |
STRA 5/11/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |
| SB 129 Testimony Received as of 5.15.23.pdf |
STRA 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |
| SB 129 Fiscal Note DOT 1.20.24.pdf |
STRA 1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |