Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/02/2000 01:39 PM Senate TRA
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SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
March 2, 2000
1:39 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jerry Ward, Chairman
Senator Drue Pearce, Vice Chair
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Rick Halford
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PORT OF BELLINGHAM PRESENTATION
SENATE BILL NO. 235
"An Act authorizing the exchange of land between the Alaska
Railroad Corporation and Eklutna, Inc., between the Alaska Railroad
Corporation and the United States Department of the Army and the
United States Department of the Air Force, between the Alaska
Railroad Corporation and Chugach Alaska Corporation, and between
the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Municipality of Anchorage;
and providing for an effective date."
MOVED CSSB 235(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 38
Expressing support for a cooperative United States-Canada
feasibility study on extending the North American rail system
through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to Alaska.
MOVED SJR 38 OUT OF COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE ORDER 101 - RELOCATE HIGHWAY SAFETY PLANNING
PREVIOUS SENATE ACTION
SB 235 - No previous Senate action.
SJR 38 - No previous Senate action.
WITNESS REGISTER
Jim Darling
Executive Director
Port of Bellingham
355 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98227
POSITION STATEMENT: Member of Port of Bellingham Presentation
Ginny Benton
President of the Board of Commissioners
Port of Bellingham
355 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98227
POSITION STATEMENT: Member of Port of Bellingham Presentation
Scott Walker, Commissioner
Port of Bellingham
355 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98227.
POSITION STATEMENT: Member of Port of Bellingham Presentation
John Carter
Director of Finance and Marine Terminals
355 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98227
POSITION STATEMENT: Member of Port of Bellingham Presentation
Mike Stoner
Port Environmental Manager
355 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98227
POSITION STATEMENT: Member of Port of Bellingham Presentation
Mr. Tom Brigham, Director
Statewide Planning Services
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, AK 99801-7898
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented and supports Executive Order 101
Ms. Kara Moriarty
Aide to Senator Wilken
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 38
Ms. Pam LaBolle, Executive Director
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce
217 2nd St.
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SJR 238
Senator Loren Leman
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 235
Mr. Mike Pauley
Aide to Senator Leman
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Described the changes made in CSSB 235(TRA)
Bill Stoltz
Aide to Senator Halford
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a proposed amendment to SB 235
Ms. Wendy Lindskoog
Alaska Railroad Corporation
PO Box 107500
Anchorage, Alaska 99510-7500
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports Senator Halford's amendment to SB 235
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 00-02, SIDE A
CHAIRMAN WARD called the Senate Transportation Committee meeting to
order at 1:39 p.m. Present were Senators Halford, Miller, and
Ward. Chairman Ward announced that the first item on the agenda
was a presentation by members of the Port of Bellingham.
MR. JIM DARLING, Executive Director, Port of Bellingham, introduced
Ginny Benton, elected Port Commissioner and President of the Board,
Scott Walker, Port Commissioner and immediate past president, Mike
Stoner, Port Environmental Manager, and John Carter, Director of
Marine Terminals and CFO. Mr. Darling noted this is his tenth trip
to Juneau to update Alaska Marine Highway System officials and the
Legislature. The Port of Bellingham is about ready to begin the
second decade of its contract with the State of Alaska. That
contract is more than just a vendor relationship - the Port of
Bellingham views the arrangement as a partnership. The community
of Bellingham has invested in its new transportation terminal, in
capital dollars, about half of the cost of one of the new proposed
fast vehicle ferries. Most of those investment dollars have come
from taxes. Bellingham considers itself Alaska's "front porch."
About one percent of the students at Western Washington University
(WWU) are from Alaska. The Port of Bellingham and WWU have a
program to track the future occupations of those students and will
report that information to the Legislature. WWU's sense is that
most students are returning to Alaska after they have completed
their degrees. The Port of Bellingham also has a connection with
Peace Health, which is a medical organization based in the Seattle
area. Peace Health operates St. Joe's hospital in Bellingham and
it has a relationship with the hospital in Ketchikan.
Number 269
CHAIRMAN WARD announced the arrival of Senator Pearce.
MR. JOHN CARTER discussed terminal enhancements. A number of years
ago, Amtrak service was made available 100 yards from the terminal.
That service has been so successful, the State of Washington and
the federal government, who funded that effort, have added a second
train. The ultimate goal is to have four trains running to and
from Seattle every day. Interstate bus service is provided in that
same terminal, as well as Bellingham's commercial airfield, which
offers 17 flights per day to the Seattle area. At the ferry
terminal itself, other vessels are providing services to the San
Juan Islands and providing adventure trips, such as kayaking. The
Port of Bellingham has just begun some building renovations on the
terminal, expected to cost about $1 million over the next 12
months. Those renovations will accommodate the facility's
increasing popularity as a place to hold wedding receptions and
other community events. Last, the Port of Bellingham has started
an initiative to increase fiber optics and conductivity for
telecommunications.
MR. DARLING pointed out that the ferry terminal in Bellingham is an
icon for the community that attracts many visitors. The Port is
very active: it operates the airport, it has increased charter
service to the sunbelt from Bellingham, and it is discussing
attracting charter flights to Alaska. The Port has also begun a
waterfront development project named "Bellwater on the Bay" across
the bay from the ferry terminal. It is a new destination hotel and
office with high technology and fiber optics connections for job
improvements in Whatcom County.
MR. DARLING commented that the Port is faced with two challenges.
First, salmon has been listed as an endangered species, which will
impact waterfront development projects in Whatcom County. Second,
I-695 passed. That initiative reduced the car registration fee to
$30. That will not affect the Port's funding because it gets no
funding from the State of Washington. However, as a municipality,
Bellingham may be affected because that initiative requires that
any new fees, charges or taxes will have to be voted on by the
public. The municipality is now sorting through the legal
translation of that provision to determine whether it will apply to
landing fees, moorage rates, rents, etc.
MR. DARLING informed committee members that the Port of Bellingham
is managing one of the keynote projects for the year 2000 through
the Puget Sound Ports Group, a working group of the seven deep-
water ports in Washington.
MR. SCOTT WALKER, a member of the Puget Sound Ports Group,
recounted a story about the Port of Tacoma. The Port of Tacoma
wanted to recruit new business with Hyundai, a car manufacturing
company, but was unable to make any workable arrangement because of
tax situations surrounding the port. The Port of Tacoma had
historical tribal lands in the area. It sold part of the Port's
land to a local tribe who, because of its tribal status, has
certain powers that enabled it to negotiate and come to an
agreement with Hyundai. He noted that ports and tribes are alike
in many ways. Tribes have special federal powers; ports were given
special powers through state enabling legislation passed in 1920.
Both have land. The Puget Sound Ports Group is hosting the first
port-tribal cooperation seminar next fall to learn about each other
and ways they can cooperate in economic development.
CHAIRMAN WARD noted that Senator Lincoln was present.
MR. DARLING distributed the Port of Bellingham's annual newsletter.
He stated that things are going well between the Port and the
Alaska Marine Highway System. Rider numbers are up and the
intermodal nature of the terminal makes it more valuable to the
traveling public. He thanked committee members for their time.
Number 960
EO 101 - RELOCATE HIGHWAY SAFETY PLANNING AGENCY
MR. TOM BRIGHAM, Director of the Division of Statewide Planning,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF), stated
Executive Order 101 addresses three main reasons why the Highway
Safety Planning Agency is a good fit with DOTPF. First, under
ISTEA and T 21, sanctions are provided in the law that relate to
compliance with safety programs. Those sanctions affect the
federal funding received by DOTPF for highway programs. Second,
DOTPF already collects a fair amount of accident and safety data
required by the Federal Highway Administration. DOTPF believes it
makes sense to combine its data collection and reporting activities
with those of the Highway Safety Planning Agency. Third, DOTPF
also sponsors safety initiatives. DOTPF would like to coordinate
all of the safety related programs within DOTPF. The relocation
will not create any changes in terms of personnel costs.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if personnel will transfer over to DOTPF but
that no costs will be involved.
MR. BRIGHAM said that is correct.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked how many people will transfer.
MR. BRIGHAM replied three people.
There were no further questions about EO 101, therefore the
committee took up SJR 38.
SJR 38-ALASKA CANADA RAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY
MS. KARA MORIARTY, legislative aide to Senator Wilken, sponsor of
SJR 38, explained that the measure expresses support for a
cooperative United States-Canada feasibility study on extending the
North American rail system through British Columbia and the Yukon
to Alaska. SJR 38 came about as a result of a conference held in
Vancouver in January, sponsored by Representative Jeanette James
who has sponsored companion legislation in the House, HJR 51. At
the conference, government officials from both the United States
and Canada, business leaders, mining and transportation specialists
and other consultants met to discuss the concept of extending the
North American rail system through Canada to Alaska. They
discussed the benefits of a safe, reliable, cost-efficient and
environmentally friendly railroad link and formulated support for
the completion of a feasibility study to look over the costs and
effects of this project. The feasibility study is the first step
in beginning the process of connecting the North American rail
system to Alaska. Senator Frank Murkowski supports a bilateral
commission made up of representatives from both the United States
and Canada to provide an in-depth study that would talk about the
best route, engineering and construction costs, and other potential
freight and passenger loads. Senator Murkowski has drafted
legislation to authorize the bilateral commission, which should be
introduced in Congress within one to two weeks. If it passes, it
will then go to the Canadian government for approval. The
Fairbanks Industrial Development Corporation supports SJR 38, as
does the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC).
MS. PAM LABOLLE, President of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce,
stated support for SJR 38. The State Chamber helped host the
conference in Vancouver. Participants were very enthusiastic about
the potential economic development that may occur in Alaska,
British Columbia, and the Yukon should this project come to
fruition. The State Chamber is very committed to any project that
will further economic development in Alaska, and asks the
Legislature to support this resolution.
There being no further discussion or questions, SENATOR MILLER
moved SJR 38 out of committee with individual recommendations.
There being no objection, the motion carried.
SB 235-APPROVING TRANSFER OF RAILROAD LAND
SENATOR LOREN LEMAN, sponsor of SB 235, informed committee members
that SB 235 authorizes the ARRC to enter into several land
exchanges needed for a railroad track upgrade and realignment
project between the Port of Anchorage and Wasilla. The first phase
of the project will upgrade tracks as far as the Eagle River bridge
and includes lands held by the military on Elmendorf Air Force Base
and Ft. Richardson, the Municipality of Anchorage, and Eklutna,
Inc. One other parcel to be exchanged, north of Seward, is held by
the State of Alaska.
The benefits of the track upgrade project, which ARRC estimates to
cost $45 to $60 million, will be decreased travel time between
Anchorage and Wasilla which could result in commuter travel between
the two cities, and a safer track. Some of the existing track has
very sharp curves which the train must take at a slower speed. The
track upgrade is also expected to reduce maintenance costs and
could eventually result in reduced traffic on the Glenn Highway.
All parties are working together to come to an agreement on the
land transfer and he has encouraged them to work out any remaining
minor differences so that the project can proceed.
SENATOR LEMAN noted that the Alaska Visitors' Association, the
Chambers of Commerce of Palmer and Wasilla, the City of Wasilla,
the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, the Matanuska-
Susitna Commission and Visitors Bureau, and the Anchorage
Convention and Visitors Bureau support the bill. He proposed a
committee substitute that contains a few technical changes in the
land descriptions.
SENATOR PEARCE moved to adopt CSSB 235 (TRA) in lieu of the
original bill.
SENATOR LINCOLN objected and asked for a description of the changes
made in the committee substitute.
MR. MIKE PAULEY, aide to Senator Leman, explained that the first
change is on page 2, lines 1-5. New language was inserted after
the word "Eklutna, Inc." to more accurately describe the specific
lands that will be exchanged between ARRC and Eklutna. The initial
legislation was not specific and the language as written could have
authorized a transfer of any land owned by Eklutna, Inc. to ARRC.
The second change was made on page 2, line 18. The amount of
acreage was increased from 225 acres to 227 acres as the result of
a reassessment which indicated that 227 acres was the more accurate
figure.
CHAIRMAN WARD noted that representatives from ARRC and Eklutna,
Inc. were available via teleconference for questions.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked Bill Stoltz to present the amendment proposed
by Senator Halford.
MR. BILL STOLTZ, legislative aide to Senator Halford, noted Senator
Halford's amendment deals with three property owners in the
Birchwood Loop area whose concerns were presented through the
Birchwood Community Council. Two of the property owners are
considered pioneer residents in Birchwood who moved there about the
time the road was built. The third property owner is a long time
resident. According to ARRC personnel, if land is not transferred
to these individuals, it will revert to BLM.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked if Senator Halford's amendment is supported by
ARRC and acknowledged that ARRC staff were nodding in agreement.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if anyone else had signed up to testify to
the amendment.
CHAIRMAN WARD said no one has signed up.
WENDY LINDSKOOG, ARRC, verified that ARRC supports Senator
Halford's amendment.
SENATOR PEARCE moved to adopt Senator Halford's amendment (labeled
I.2) which reads as follows.
"APPROVAL OF THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE. (a) Contingent upon the approval
of the conveyance of affected municipal park land by the
voters of the Municipality of Anchorage, the Alaska Railroad
Corporation is authorized to convey the corporation's entire
interest in
(1) approximately 4.5 acres of railroad utility corridor
between railroad mileposts 133 and 134, within Township 15
North, Range 2 West, Sections 13 and 24, Seward Meridian, to
the Municipality of Anchorage in exchange for the conveyance
of approximately 13.6 acres of land in the same vicinity to
the corporation by the Municipality of Anchorage;
(2) approximately 5.1 acres of railroad utility corridor
between railroad mileposts 133 and 134, within Township 15
North, Range 2 West, Sections 13 and 24, Seward Meridian, to
Richard and Carol Drebert, Harry and Simone Thomson, and
Richard Moore or their personal representatives, successors,
or assigns; each to receive that portion of the railroad
utility corridor immediately adjacent to their respective
parcels of land."
There being no objection, Senator Halford's amendment was adopted.
SENATOR MILLER moved CSSB 235(TRA) from committee with individual
recommendations.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if anyone else signed up to testify.
CHAIRMAN WARD said there is not.
There being no objection, the motion to moved CSSB 235(TRA) from
committee carried.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
CHAIRMAN WARD adjourned the meeting.
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