Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
01/31/2023 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Federal Funding and Planning for the Future | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
January 31, 2023
1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator James Kaufman, Chair
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Robert Myers
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator David Wilson, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES FEDERAL FUNDING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
-HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JAMES MARKS, Director
Division of Planning and Development
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a report on the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities Planning for the Future.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:31:43 PM
CHAIR JAMES KAUFMAN called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Kiehl, Tobin, Myers and Chair Kaufman.
^PRESENTATION: ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES FEDERAL FUNDING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
FEDERAL FUNDING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE PRESENTATION
1:32:53 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN announced the committee would hear a report from
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on
Federal Funding and Planning for the Future.
JAMES MARKS, Director, Division of Planning and Development,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Juneau,
Alaska spoke about the department's past and probable future He
highlighted the planning efforts over the next year and beyond.
1:34:17 PM
MR. MARKS detailed the agenda depicted on Slide 2: Agenda.
1) Retrospective "The year so far"
• Federal Funding & Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act (IIJA) to Date
• Opportunities & Lessons Learned
2) Planning "It all starts in planning"
• Family of Plans & Recent Changes
3) Deployment "We're doers. We do
• Strategic Partners
• Community-driven Planning
• New State Funding Programs
1:36:15 PM
SENATOR TOBIN wondered how the department incorporated land use.
MR. MARKS offered to address the question later in the
presentation.
1:36:48 PM
MR. MARKS moved to slide 4: Federal Funding Overview. He
described the various program examples listed on the slide. The
depiction explained the federal funding flow for the programs
listed. He highlighted the apportioned programs at the top of
the list. The additional programs listed were relatively new.
1:38:30 PM
SENATOR MYERS wondered about the Bridge Program and the Bridge
Investment Program. The first was formula-funded and the latter
discretionary. He asked about the differences between the
programs.
MR. MARKS responded that the two programs received money from
two funding sources. He informed the committee that states
received a formula of $45 million per year. The discretionary
piece requires the state to apply for additional funds. He noted
that the state applied for additional funding for bridges
through the discretionary program.
SENATOR KIEHL mentioned a District Q project known as Grandpa's
Farm Road Bridge in Gustavus. He wondered if formula or
discretionary money was utilized for that bridge project.
MR. MARKS replied that he would follow up with the correct
answer.
SENATOR KIEHL asked if he would review past documents to
ascertain the funding source.
MR. MARKS replied that funding was derived through various
channels.
SENATOR TOBIN expressed excitement about the Reconnecting
Community Pilot Program listed on Slide 4.
1:41:42 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN asked about the color coding in the graphic.
MR. MARKS replied that the department worked with a continuous
improvement methodology. Evaluation and learning were hallmarks
of this strategy. He highlighted the importance of partnerships.
The graphic represented that thoughtful analysis.
CHAIR KAUFMAN asked if the first part of the presentation
focused on learning retrospective content.
MR. MARKS answered yes.
CHAIR KAUFMAN asked if slide 4 presented a comprehensive list of
programs.
MR. MARKS responded that a more comprehensive list was
forthcoming.
CHAIR KAUFMAN introduced the idea of a Responsible, Accountable,
Consulted and Informed (RACI) chart. He asked if the department
used such a chart or system for program evaluation.
MR. MARKS noted the complexities involved in acclimating to new
partners. He spoke to the benefits of clear roles and team
philosophies.
CHAIR KAUFMAN stated his need for data from the department to
best inform his role as Chair of the committee.
1:46:17 PM
MR. MARKS moved to slide 5: Eight Apportioned Programs. He
stated that the slide depicted formula programs including high-
level funding of $3.5 billion for Alaska over the last five
years. He detailed the various programs and grants shown on the
slide. He mentioned working with University of Alaska Fairbanks
and Two Bears. He pointed to climate change predictors that help
inform new programs including the Carbon Reduction Program and
the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient
and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) program.
1:48:16 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked for an explanation of Two Bears.
MR. MARKS replied that Two Bears was a climate advocacy group in
Alaska.
1:48:47 PM
MR. MARKS discussed slide 6: Alaska's Transportation Share,
which provided a sense of scalability. He highlighted the growth
of 28-30 percent from previous levels. He clarified that
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) authorized
existing programs and created some new ones. The Fast Act
allowed for approximately $170-200 million in funding. He
pointed out the highlighted boxes that demonstrated that the
state did not receive the full year apportionment. The federal
omnibus passed but required further processing, leading to a
six-to-eight-week gap.
1:50:41 PM
MR. MARKS continued with slide 7: Federal Funding Programs,
which highlighted funding before IIGA. He explained that the
first bar depicted inflation-adjusted funding from FY22-FY26.
The expected amounts showed growth in existing and new programs.
He spoke about the totals listed at the bottom of the slide. Of
the $559 million in growth, approximately 41 percent arrived
through the traditional national highways fund. He spoke about
transportation alternatives, which saw some of the largest
growth with the Fast Act.
1:53:23 PM
SENATOR TOBIN wondered about the state match to the federal
funds. She asked if the state must compensate for the additional
federal dollars. She wondered how to maximize federal dollars.
MR. MARKS replied that the numbers listed in the presentation
exemplified federal dollars. He pointed out that the growth was
represented in the state's Capital Budget.
1:54:20 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN wondered about representation of the Alaska Marine
Highway.
MR. MARKS replied that the programs depicted were formula
programs. The Alaska Marine Highway was classified as an
allocated program and was subject to annual appropriation and
another pre-defined formula.
1:55:27 PM
MR. MARKS discussed Slide 8: "Current Challenges.
1. "Disconnected" from land use, community, and regional
needs
2. "Silo Mentality" vs. "Team mindset"
3. Legacy systems and data practices; Information dominance
4. Planning holistically; Multimodal level-of-service (LOS)
5. Current regulations are onerous, outdated, and obsolete
6. Slow-moving bureaucracies & processes
7. Vague working definitions for urban, rural, remote,
resiliency, etc
MR. MARKS revisited Senator Tobin's point about land use. He
acknowledged that the state was in a poor position to inform or
direct land use, leading to the perception of disconnection. He
stated that the department had planners visiting the regions and
attending assembly meetings. He spoke about community driven
planning and project delivery. He stressed the value of working
as a team within the department. He stated that the department
considered gauging access and investment across the multimodal
level-of-service. Current planning regulations were outdated.
CHAIR KAUFMAN wondered about statutes driving regulations. He
asked if the legislature should address specific outdated
statutes.
MR. MARKS offered to provide the requested information to the
committee.
2:00:06 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked about challenges, and the vague working
definitions for urban, rural, remote and resiliency. She
wondered about tribes and the appropriate working definition.
MR. MARKS replied that the federal government guided certain
funding sources to tribal transportation programs. He noted that
the definitions of rural or remote differed with state and
federal government terminology. He explained that rural areas in
Alaska compete against the urban projects. Rural projects are
therefore compromised by lower volume and crash histories.
2:03:03 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN asked about point number 6, slow-moving
bureaucracies, and processes.
MR. MARKS replied that he worked with the Alaska Municipal
League (AML). He acknowledged that the department was challenged
to move quickly. Delays related to bureaucracies and processes
were felt by both communities and partners. He spoke to the
value of agile and efficient process.
CHAIR KAUFMAN wondered if the slide depicted the seven top-tier
issues. He asked if the issues were elevated through
criticality.
MR. MARKS replied that the list included the top challenges but
was limited. He pointed out that maintenance operations and the
vessel fleet also encountered challenges.
CHAIR KAUFMAN agreed that the critical few issues were
identified. He asked about an active improvement project
tackling the slow-moving bureaucracies and processes.
MR. MARKS replied yes, an improvement process was underway but
slow-moving bureaucracies hampered approximately 1000 different
projects throughout the department. He spoke again about the
value of team methodology as a potential solution. He noted the
idea of raising literacy within the department.
CHAIR KAUFMAN requested clarification about literacy.
MR. MARKS clarified that he was speaking about data literacy for
best possible outcomes. He mentioned descriptive, predictive,
and prescriptive processes. Projects existed in various
processes.
2:11:21 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN wished to hear more about improvement stages.
2:11:40 PM
MR. MARKS moved to slide 9: Planning, which detailed the
department's trajectory.
2:12:32 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN asked about the status of the long-range
transportation plan.
MR. MARKS replied that IIJA presented unplanned challenges. The
freight plan had a shorter timeline.
CHAIR KAUFMAN inquired about the modal and system plans.
2:14:17 PM
MR. MARKS moved to slide 10: Family of Plans and detailed the
Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) including policies, goals,
and objectives. He explained the effort required to make the
plan performance based. He noted that the plans work together
within a hierarchy. He highlighted the LRTP. He reminded the
committee that additional plans will be added to the existing
plans. He spoke about evaluations and noted that the state had
various interests like erosion and rock fall mitigation.
Separate communities required additional funding for specific
plans. The family of plans addressed a wide variety of plans. He
spoke about the yellow arrows on the slide depicting efforts to
improve the planning process. The feedback loop informed future
iterations of the plan. He spoke to the concept of agile
planning. Area plans are adopted every 10-15 years.
2:20:26 PM
MR. MARKS continued the discussion about agility and engagement
with federal partners.
CHAIR KAUFMAN asked about the various tiers depicted on the
slide. He wished to know if the individual tiers had plan
owners.
MR. MARKS replied that the long-range transportation manager was
responsible for the development of a long-range plan every four
years. He stated that the strategic investment plan provided a
new section within the division employing a strategic investment
chief. The modal and system plans fell under program management
with an active transportation planner. He spoke about the
state's area regions.
CHAIR KAUFMAN asked how regions and modes intersect.
MR. MARKS replied that the area plans incorporate strategic
investment, LRTP, the modal and system plans. Priorities for
area planning vary from area to area.
2:24:17 PM
SENATOR TOBIN referenced agility and asked about federal
government guidance related to IIGA. She asked how the
legislature might help the department shift the mindset and
enable agility.
MR. MARKS requested she clarify the question.
SENATOR TOBIN asked how the legislature might benefit the
department with issues like agility and community
responsiveness.
MR. MARKS acknowledged the complexity of the question. He shared
that the department worked to prioritize communities. He stated
that he would present the question to the Commissioner's office
and return to the committee with a short list.
2:26:25 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN asked Mr. Marks to proceed through the slides with
brevity, noting the time allocated for the hearing.
2:26:49 PM
MR. MARKS discussed Slide 11: Public Perceptions of Regional
Priorities. The survey received 2700 responses from various
regions. He noted that the priorities were detailed through
public engagement. He revisited the feedback loop from the
previous slide. He pointed out that the Yukon Kuskokwim Region
did not provide feedback. Trends emerged in certain areas
informing future planning. Active outreach was required to
access better input from the regions.
2:29:44 PM
SENATOR MYERS commented about the five regions depicted in slide
11. He noted that capital and infrastructure projects could grow
and strengthen the state economy. In a previous presentation,
the department stated that they contribute to the development of
commerce and industry in Alaska. He saw a disconnect between the
legislature, the department, and the people.
MR. MARKS replied that the slide represented responses from
public input, not the position of the department.
2:31:24 PM
MR. MARKS moved to slide 12: Strategic Investment Areas."
• Safety
• Economic Vitality
• State of Good Repair (SOGR)
• Resiliency
• Sustainability
2:33:21 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN spoke about the importance of clarity.
2:33:42 PM
MR. MARKS moved to slide 13: Deployment, and spoke to the
critically important nature of partnerships.
2:34:40 PM
MR. MARKS discussed slide 14: Family of Programs.
Existing Programs
1. Solicitations
a) Community Transportation, Transportation
Alternatives, and Harbors Program
2. State Programs
a) Examples: Highway Safety Improvement Program,
Bridge, Culverts, Research, etc.
New Programs
1. Solicitations
a) Safe Ice Roads for Alaskans
b) Rural Ports, Docks & Barge Landings
c) Community Bridge Program
d) Sustainable Transportation Program
2. State Programs
a) Carbon Reduction Program (CRP)
b) Promoting Resilient Operations for
Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving
Transportation (PROTECT)
2:38:59 PM
MR. MARKS continued with slide 15, Safe Ice Roads for Alaskans.
He spoke to the funding awards multiple communities in Alaska
received. He mentioned the challenges involved with grant
funding.
SENATOR MYERS asked about the ice roads and the planning
possibilities. He wondered if permanent roads might be a better
option.
2:42:11 PM
MR. MARKS replied that the ice roads often exist on rivers. The
maintenance activity included plowing and ice-core drilling for
thickness. He spoke to the communities' ability to maintain
projects, which was awarded by extra points.
2:43:17 PM
MR. MARKS spoke to slide 16: Community Bridge Program, and
detailed specific infrastructure needs.
2:45:14 PM
MR. MARKS moved to slide 17, Rural Ports, Docks and Barge
Landings. He pointed out that the development of the strategic
plan required much research and solicited input. He spoke about
the investment plan requiring significant input. He mentioned
that the eligibility was specific to rural needs.
2:47:35 PM
SENATOR TOBIN recalled that IT barriers were creating issues
with community communication.
MR. MARKS replied that the response might be extensive but
provide opinions from the large minority. He mentioned an active
online tool called Public Comment, but he spoke to the
importance of the human side.
2:49:18 PM
MR. MARKS reviewed Slide 18, Strategic Partners.
• Alaska Municipal League
• Alaska Regional Development
• Organizations (ARDORs)
• Alaska Energy Authority
• Denali Commission
• SEALASKA
• Southeast Conference
• US Fish & Wildlife
• National Park Service
• National Forest Service
• Western Federal Lands
2:50:53 PM
MR. MARKS moved to Slide 19, Community-Driven Planning. He
talked about the map and noted that the NorthStar borough and
others expressed interest in the Regional Planning Organization
(RPO).
2:54:24 PM
MR. MARKS continued with Slide 20, Approach to Discretionary
Grants.
• Not competing with each other
• Grant coordination team
• Strategic partners
• Online clearinghouse: "The HUB
MR. MARKS mentioned awards the department received including a
planning grant in Kodiak. He pointed out another award including
a bundle of projects. He spoke about partnering with AML in the
development of a project intake clearinghouse called the Alaska
Federal Opportunities Funding Hub. Projects are submitted to the
HUB to work with the department and AML staff connecting needs
to resources or grant writers.
CHAIR KAUFMAN found no closing comments or questions.
2:57:47 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kaufman adjourned the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting at 2:58 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 1.31 DOTPF State, Federal & IIJA Funding.pdf |
STRA 1/31/2023 1:30:00 PM |
|
| DOTPF Follow Up to Committee - Answers to Questions.pdf |
STRA 1/31/2023 1:30:00 PM |
|
| DOTPF Follow Up to Committee - Region, Road, and Ferry Route Map.pdf |
STRA 1/31/2023 1:30:00 PM |