Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
03/06/2025 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Winter Road Maintenance | |
| Presentation(s): Rural Airport System Overview | |
| 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
March 6, 2025
1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Chair
Senator Löki Tobin, Vice Chair
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Mike Shower (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Bert Stedman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): WINTER ROAD MAINTENANCE
- HEARD
PRESENTATION(S): RURAL AIRPORT SYSTEM OVERVIEW
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
ANDY MILLS, Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Continued the Winter Road Maintenance
presentation from February 20, 2025.
BRAD BYLSMA, Equipment Fleet Manager
Statewide Equipment Fleet (SEF)
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Continued the Winter Road Maintenance
presentation from February 20, 2025.
BURRELL NICKESON, Manager
Maintenance and Operations
Central Region
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the Winter Road
Maintenance presentation.
TROY LARUE, Operations Manager
Division of Statewide Aviation
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented the Rural Airport System
Overview.
REBECCA DOUGLAS, Aviation and Planning Chief
Statewide Aviation
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented the Rural Airport System
Overview.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:31:38 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Kiehl, Tobin, and Chair Bjorkman. Senator
Shower arrived thereafter (via teleconference).
^PRESENTATION(S): WINTER ROAD MAINTENANCE
PRESENTATION(S): WINTER ROAD MAINTENANCE
1:32:34 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced a presentation from the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) on winter road
maintenance. This is a continuation of the presentation [from
the February 20, 2025 Senate Transportation Committee meeting].
1:32:56 PM
ANDY MILLS, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Office of the
Commissioner, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOTPF), Juneau, Alaska, continued the Winter Road Maintenance
presentation from February 20, 2025. He noted that the
presentation was updated to include additional information.
1:33:35 PM
BRAD BYLSMA, Equipment Fleet Manager, Statewide Equipment Fleet
(SEF), Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOTPF), Anchorage, Alaska, advanced to Slide 20 and discussed
the state equipment fleet (SEF):
[Original punctuation provided.]
51 Maintenance Shops Statewide
125 Mechanic Positions
Over 7,500 pieces of state equipment and vehicles
• Executive branch
• University of Alaska
• Other state agencies
Primary Focus in October-March:
• Snow and Ice Removal Equipment
MR. BYLSMA discussed State Equipment Fleet (SEF) winter
challenges. He addressed a question asked in the previous
meeting regarding issues obtaining approval for equipment
maintenance. He clarified that approval is not needed prior to
performing equipment maintenance, although funding can sometimes
be an issue.
1:35:41 PM
MR. BYLSMA advanced to Slide 21 and discussed equipment mechanic
staffing. Slide 21 includes a table with heavy equipment
mechanic positions and vacancy rates for maintenance districts
across the state. He stated that, while approval is not
necessary for equipment maintenance, vacancies in heavy
equipment mechanic positions do cause maintenance delays.
1:36:03 PM
SENATOR KIEHL expressed concern about the number of vacancies,
which he noted seems to be increasing. He asked what DOTPF is
doing to ensure those positions are filled.
MR. BYLSMA agreed with this assessment. He briefly listed the
approaches DOTPF has taken in an effort to fill vacancies. He
indicated that changes in federal requirements created
additional barriers. He added that, while the presentation is
specific to SEF, the heavy equipment mechanic shortage is an
industry-wide issue.
1:37:49 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked about the entry-level pay rate for a heavy
diesel mechanic.
MR. BYLSMA replied that the starting wage varies by location.
Anchorage starts at $28-$29 per hour. The pay in remote
locations is typically 30-40 percent higher. He noted that
DOTPF's starting wage is typically lower than the private
sector.
1:38:43 PM
SENATOR KIEHL agreed that this is lower than the private sector.
1:38:47 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced that Senator Shower joined the meeting
(via teleconference).
1:38:58 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked for additional information about how
funding impacts SEF's ability to maintain essential winter
maintenance equipment.
MR. BYLSMA clarified his earlier statement. He said that funding
is not an issue when it comes to general maintenance and
repairing the equipment. Large scale repairs require approval.
He explained that SEF has a budget to maintain equipment.
1:40:27 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked how SEF prepares for winter weather around
the state and ensures that there is a redundancy in equipment
for snow events.
MR. BYLSMA explained how SEF prepares for the winter season.
This process begins in the summer and continues into the fall.
Plow trucks are used as dump trucks in the summer and mechanics
perform maintenance on the trucks in the fall. The same process
applies to all other winter road maintenance equipment. SEF aims
to have the entire fleet ready for winter road maintenance by
mid-October.
1:43:52 PM
MR. BYLSMA advanced to Slide 22 and discussed alternative
sources for maintenance resources:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Addressing Mechanic Vacancies
• Increased reliance on alternative repair methods
• Utilizing:
• Equipment dealers
• Car and light truck dealers
• Independent and specialty shops
• MO staff and local airport contractors
Exploring New Partnerships
• Working to collaborate with large construction
companies
• Potential use of their maintenance facilities for
equipment servicing
[Slide 22 also includes a table titled, "SEF
Contracted Maintenance" containing data for FY2022-
2025.]
1:45:43 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN commented on the importance of winter road
maintenance. He opined that DOTPF should have the necessary
equipment and personnel in house and not depend on private
contractors or other institutional entities. He pointed out that
different priorities can cause strained relationships and stated
that he does not want Alaska's core government services to be at
the whim of those entities and their priorities. He opined that
it is good for the government to deliver on its core
constitutional missions - road maintenance being one. He asked
to what extent DOTPF contracts with private mechanics to repair
equipment - and to what degree this practice is successful in
ensuring the equipment is ready when needed.
MR. BYLSMA agreed that it is the responsibility of DOTPF and SEF
to maintain equipment and have it ready and available when it is
needed. He stated that DOTPF and SEF fulfill this obligation. He
acknowledged that different priorities are a concern and said
that contractor agreements are leveraged to the state's
advantage. He offered examples to illustrate this. He emphasized
that DOTPF's mission is to use its own maintenance crew to keep
the fleet on the road.
1:50:15 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN emphasized that DOTPF is responsible for
maintaining the fleet and blame should not be placed on
contractors or other entities if DOTPF is unable to fulfill this
obligation.
1:50:48 PM
SENATOR KIEHL concurred. He acknowledged that utilizing
contractors makes sense for certain types of work; however, he
expressed concern with the amount of contracted work shown on
Slide --. He commented that, while DOTPF is responsible for
ensuring the fleet is ready and available for work, the money
comes from the Legislature. He asked whether a cost-benefit
analysis has been done on the current level of contract work. He
wondered if the contract work is in response to immediate need
without considering the long-term implications.
MR. BYLSMA replied that the cost-benefit of utilizing external
mechanics is constantly monitored. He briefly discussed the
various factors considered. He agreed that DOTPF has contracted
more in recent years and explained that this has been an attempt
to mitigate the 33 percent vacancy rate. He clarified that in
some instances, contracting is done out of necessity, in an
effort to keep equipment on the road - with cost-benefit in
mind. He added that the long-term implications may be a separate
question.
1:53:53 PM
MR. MILLS referenced slide 21, Equipment Mechanic Staffing, and
explained that the LTC contract from 2024 was a confounding
variable. He briefly explained how the pool of available
mechanics impacts this. He emphasized that the recruitment
issues are industry wide. He then referenced Slide 22,
Alternative Sources for Maintenance Resources, and explained
that this refers to nominal dollars. He acknowledged that this
does not explain the increase over time. He added that a
shrinking pool of available mechanics must be met with an
increased pay rate in order to capture the limited availability.
1:55:46 PM
SENATOR TOBIN noted that the mechanic vacancy in Western Alaska
is 50 percent despite a large population of skilled individuals.
She shared her understanding that one reason for this is a lack
of retirement benefits for the mechanic positions.
1:56:30 PM
MR. BYLSMA advanced to Slide 23 and discussed new equipment
purchasing:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Current Challenges
Long lead times for heavy equipment (18-24 months)
Improving Availability
Some equipment categories seeing shorter wait times:
Loaders and Graders
(8-16 months)
[Slide 23 also contains a table titled, "Plow Truck
Orders by Fiscal Year," which displays data for
FY2022-2025.]
MR. BYLSMA noted that in FY2022, DOTPF took delivery of six plow
trucks, and discussed the impact of pandemic and supply-chain
issues and nationwide worker shortages.
1:58:33 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 24 and discussed the Virtual Snow
Summit:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Building on the October 2023 Summit
• Continued discussions and regional updates
Key Topics in 2024
• Maintenance Updates Regional insights and
improvements
• Statewide Equipment Fleet Overview and
optimization
• 511 System Innovations and upgrades
• Winter Operations Dashboard Real-time
monitoring tools
• Sidewalk and Pedestrian Improvements
Accessibility and safety
Commitment to Future Snow Summits
• Affirmed annual summits for continued
collaboration
• Rotating host communities to expand engagement
2:00:05 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked what name was chosen for the snowplow at
this year's summit.
MR. MILLS replied that Darth Blader was chosen two years ago but
he could not remember this year's name. He briefly described the
naming process. The MO operators choose the final name. He said
he would provide this information.
2:01:15 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 25 and discussed brine:
[Original punctuation provided.]
What is Brine?
Brine is typically Sodium Chloride (solid salt) that
is rendered into a solution of 23.3 percent for direct
application on roads or sand to then be used on winter
roads
MR. MILLS provided details regarding the chemical makeup of
brine and how it is applied. He said that brine is the least
corrosive of the available options. He briefly discussed
creative brine alternatives.
2:04:06 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 26 and compared brine and solid de-
icing:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Brine vs Solid De-icing
• Improves the persistence of the brine on the road
surface - prevents a bond forming between the
snow and the road surface
• Corrosion inhibitors (additives) used to reduce
impact on vehicles and infrastructure, percentage
added per product specifications
• Cost savings - through faster application, fewer
trips to clear, and lower commodity costs (less
chemical on road and in environment)
[Slide 26 includes two infographics comparing the
typical scatter pattern of road salt to the scatter
pattern of pre-wet road salt.]
MR. MILLS emphasized that utilizing brine is a trade-off. He
acknowledged that there are concerns regarding its corrosivity
but opined that this is worth the increase in road safety that
brine provides.
2:07:44 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN agreed with the stated trade-offs. He listed
several concerns related to corrosion caused by brine and
asserted that the anti-corrosion agents are not effective. He
listed some of the safety issues that brine causes, including
corroded brakes and fuel lines. He opined that DOTPF should
consider limiting brine use. He added that many of his
constituents support ending brine use. He referred to a petition
to end brine use on the Kenai Peninsula. He expressed a desire
to return to previous methods of winter highway maintenance
(packed snow, etc.) for both safety and ease of driving. He
emphasized that he supports reducing or eliminating brine use.
MR. MILLS said that he understands the concerns. He added that
some of this would be addressed in a later slide, which offers
some alternatives. He said that he has spoken to some residents
of the Kenai Peninsula who did not share this perspective. He
said that DOTPF does its best to respond to concerns. He
acknowledged that the amount of brine used on the Kenai
Peninsula did result in legitimate concerns and added that this
would be discussed on an upcoming slide.
2:12:08 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 27 and explained the difference
between de-icing and anti-icing:
[Original punctuation provided.]
• Anti-icing is pretreating a surface to
maintain/preserve better condition whereas de-
icing is treating a surface after ice has formed
• Without pretreatment, an operator must return to
a site more frequently
• Brine pretreatment is data-driven
[Slide 27 contains a flow chart illustrating how brine
application is determined.]
MR. MILLS drew attention to the photo on Slide 27 and explained
why certain roads benefit from the use of brine. He briefly
discussed concerns related to compacted snow (as an alternative
to brine). He explained the variables that determine whether or
not to use brine and emphasized that DOTPF drivers make informed
decisions regarding the use of brine (they do not simply apply
brine to all roads in the winter).
2:15:55 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 28, and discussed brine engagement
on the Kenai Peninsula:
[Original punctuation provided.]
• 2023 petition with over 6K signatures and auto
service companies with concerns
• DOTPF Commissioner's Office participated in
several borough assembly meetings and town halls
on brine to directly hear from residents
• Legislative and Borough Mayor letter
• Commissioner directed reduction plan (40
percent), pilot for Funny River Road, literature
review, enhanced brine training for operators,
and public engagement
• Winter 2023/2024 saw reduction of ~60 percent
• Further reduction at milepost 0-16 on K-Beach
Road in 2024/2025
• Literature review slated for release in 2025
2:18:44 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN said that residents on Funny River Road were
happy with the road quality when brine was not used.
MR. MILLS said that DOTPF was very attentive to Funny River Road
and expressed appreciation for this feedback.
2:19:36 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 29 and discussed winter road
maintenance jurisdiction and priorities. Slide 29 contains a map
of Anchorage roads maintained by DOTPF and a map of all
Anchorage roads. He emphasized that not all roads are DOTPF
roads.
2:20:25 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 30, Winter Road Maintenance
Prioritization:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Winter Road Maintenance Priority
Established by DOTPF in 2017 to better communicate
winter maintenance to public, with small tweaks in the
last 5 years
Criteria to establish priorities includes:
• Annual average daily traffic (AADT)
• Weather events
• Major shipping lanes and freight/cargo transport
• Access to other modes of transportation
• Safety corridors
• Public transit systems
• Emergency responders and hospitals route and
segment access
• School bus routing
• Population density of surrounding/connected area
• Alternative emergency routes, types of roads,
bridges and rivers
• Existing DOTPF resources
• Distance from MO station
• Pedestrian facilities*
• Trails and waysides*
* survey results asked for additional consideration
[Slide 30 contains a table that presents priorities 1-
5, along with road clearing timeframes and examples of
each.]
2:21:35 PM
SENATOR TOBIN expressed surprise that sidewalk clearing does not
begin until after priority 4 roads are clear. She asked about
the reasoning behind delaying sidewalk clearing, particularly
when so many people utilize the sidewalks.
MR. MILLS explained that sidewalk clearing was recently
decoupled from road clearing. He deferred to Mr. Nickeson for
additional information.
2:23:21 PM
BURRELL NICKESON, Manager, Maintenance and Operations, Central
Region, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOTPF), Anchorage, Alaska, said that DOTPF has heard from
legislators and the public that clearing sidewalks is a
priority. He explained that clearing snow on major roads with
very limited right-of-way makes clearing the sidewalks
difficult, as this is the only place to put the snow. Snow is
later removed from the sidewalks using a blower and trucks. He
said that DOTPF is working with the Municipality of Anchorage to
ensure bus stops and the surrounding sidewalks are clear. In
addition, DOTPF has non-permanent positions that rove throughout
the municipality and work to clear sidewalks. He confirmed that
sidewalks have been decoupled from the surrounding roads. He
added that DOTPF has made a lot of progress with sidewalks, and
this will continue to be a focus.
2:25:32 PM
SENATOR TOBIN said that it is helpful to hear about the
prioritization. She directed attention to the GIS map and noted
that the timeframe for clearing a priority 1 road is 12 hours,
while the timeframe for clearing a priority 1 sidewalk is 48
hours. She requested additional information about these
timeframes.
2:26:27 PM
MR. MILLS briefly explained the challenges but acknowledged that
citizens would like more equity in clearing roads and sidewalks.
He said DOTPF is working to do more in this area.
2:27:26 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked whether property owners have a
responsibility to clear adjacent sidewalks.
MR. MILLS replied that in Alaska, DOTPF and municipalities are
responsible for clearing sidewalks; however, property owners are
responsible for clearing berms in driveways.
2:29:08 PM
SENATOR KIEHL clarified that it is not a state requirement;
however, some municipalities do require property owners to clear
adjacent sidewalks.
2:29:29 PM
MR. MILLS noted that on Slide 30, there is a color-coded list
that indicates the priority of various routes. Operators receive
a sheet and use this as a guide.
2:30:11 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 31 and discussed FY2023 intent
language:
[Original punctuation provided.]
FY2023 INTENT LANGUAGE
It is the intent of the legislature that DOTPF create
and implement a method to solicit input from and
consult with local municipalities, community
organizations, Metropolitan Planning Organizations,
Regional Transportation Planning Organizations and
service areas on the creation and revision of the
prioritized list of state-maintained roads and
highways for snow plowing, and to coordinate these
efforts, where appropriate, with local governments and
service areas. This plan shall be developed and
submitted to the Finance Committee Co-Chairs and
Legislative Finance Division by December 20th, 2022.
CY2022 STIP List (Survey #1)
1,100 contacts reached municipal (mayors and city
managers), village and city council members.
616 total submissions received.
CY2022 MPO Member (Survey #2)
Distributed to Municipal Planning Organization members
directly.
31 total submissions received from MPO members.
CY2022 Community Council (Survey #3)
Distributed to community council members directly from
lists compiled by DOTPF communications staff.
42 total submissions received.
[Slide 31 also contains a table titled, "2022 Winter
Road Priority Maint. Criteria ranking (Survey
Summary)".]
2:30:24 PM
MR. MILLS advanced to Slide 32, and discussed winter operations
improvements:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Winter Ops Continuous Improvements:
Responsive improvements:
• Functional classification census review happening
2024-2025 (March 27 is next public engagement,
April 15 in Anchorage and through December of
this year)
• Pedestrian-specific focus with mapping of
Anchorage sidewalk priorities in 2024
• MO has ongoing discussions with local government
on additional local road swaps (efficiency of
operations)
• Priority 3 and 4, plus sidewalk contractor
support through supplemental service
• Winter Ops Dashboard piloted, working on
expanding to other areas of Alaska
MR. MILLS said that supplemental services can speed up clearing
sidewalks and roads.
2:33:38 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN noted the time and suggested that any additional
discussion be taken up during subcommittee hearings.
2:33:50 PM
At ease.
^PRESENTATION(S): RURAL AIRPORT SYSTEM OVERVIEW
PRESENTATION(S): RURAL AIRPORT SYSTEM OVERVIEW
2:35:17 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced a
presentation from the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (DOTPF) titled "Rural Airport System Overview."
2:35:41 PM
TROY LARUE, Operations Manager, Division of Statewide Aviation,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF),
Anchorage, Alaska, advanced to Slide 2:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Mission Statements:
Alaska DOTPF
"Keep Alaska Moving Through Service and
Infrastructure"
Alaska International Airports System (AIAS)
"To Keep Alaska Flying and Thriving"
Statewide Aviation (SWA)
"To Sustain and Improve the Quality of Life Throughout
Alaska"
2:36:21 PM
MR. LARUE advanced to Slide 3 and provided an overview of DOTPF
organization and leadership. Slide 3 contains a flowchart to
illustrate DOTPF, SWA, and AIAS leadership positions and
locations.
2:36:38 PM
MR. LARUE advanced to Slide 4 and discussed statewide aviation.
Slide 4 contains a map of the Lower 48 overlaid with a map of
Alaska to illustrate the distance/geographical coverage. 82
percent of Alaskan communities are not connected to the road
system and rely on aviation. He noted that aviation faces many
challenges but opined that Alaska has a good relationship with
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
2:37:14 PM
MR. LARUE advanced to Slide 5 and discussed the rural system
operating budget:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Rural System Operating Budget
FFY2024
• Operating Cost = $48.69M
• Revenue = $11.08M ($6.8M Leasing + $4.3M Fuel
Taxes)
System Sustainability
• Cost Reductions/Efficiencies
• Sand/Chemical Optimization
• Maintenance Conversion from General Fund to
Federal Program
Workforce Challenges
• Staffing and Training
2:38:31 PM
REBECCA DOUGLAS, Aviation and Planning Chief, Division of
Statewide Aviation, Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (DOTPF), Anchorage, Alaska, advanced to Slide 6 and
discussed Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding
Federal Capital Funding
FFY2020 AIP = $198.9M
FFY2021 AIP = $184.2M
FFY2022 AIP = $236.4M (BIL = $19.6M) TOTAL= $256M
FFY2023 AIP = $172.9M (BIL = $56.4M) TOTAL= $229M
FFY2024 AIP = $163.6M (BIL = $81.2M) TOTAL= $244.8M
Rural Airport System State Match
Generally, 6.25 percent of Project Eligible Costs
FFY2025 and FFY2026 are at 5 percent Ratio
Essential Air Service (EAS) Airports Remain at 5
percent Match of Project Eligible Costs
2:40:47 PM
MS. DOUGLAS advanced to Slide 7, and discussed AIP and BIL
funding for FFY 2024:
[Original punctuation provided.]
AIP Program: $211.0M
• Rural Airport System = $163.6M
• Alaska International Airport System = $47.4M
BIL (Stimulus): $98.0M
• Rural Airport System = $81.2M
• Alaska International Airport System = $16.8M
MS. DOUGLAS noted that unused BIL funding rolls over to the next
year, though it is typically used.
2:42:13 PM
MS. DOUGLAS advanced to Slide 8 and discussed the FFY2024 grant
timeline:
[Original punctuation provided.]
FFY2024 Grant Timeline
• Due to FFY2024 Continuing Resolutions
• Record Slow Obligation Year
• Obligated 84 percent In September 2024
• 11 Rural Construction Projects Advertised
• First Grant Executed July 11, 2024
• Last Grant Executed September 9, 2024
MS. DOUGLAS contrasted the FFY2024 funding with FFY2025. She
noted that large construction projects would not be advertised
until federal AIP funding is secured.
2:43:49 PM
SENATOR TOBIN requested follow-up on the FFY 2026 allocations
and FFY2025 construction when additional information becomes
available.
MS. DOUGLAS agreed and said that additional information would be
available in the coming weeks. She stated that the planned
program would likely continue to move forward in spite of
funding delays.
2:45:08 PM
MS. DOUGLAS advanced to Slide 9 and discussed airport terminal
projects:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Airport Terminal Projects
• Terminal Projects Funded Through Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Airport Terminal
Program (ATP) Funds
• Two Terminal Projects in Coordination Between
DOTPF and Respective Boroughs, Operating Through
Co-sponsorship Agreements
• Sitka Terminal Building Modifications
Currently in Construction with Phase II
Grant Planned for FFY2025
• Ketchikan Terminal Area Expansion Funding
Planned for FFY2025
MS. DOUGLAS discussed construction grants for airport projects
across the state, including improvements to Ketchikan and Sitka
airports.
2:47:19 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked about the backlog of maintenance needs and
expectations for rural airports. He wondered if maintenance
needs (e.g. roofs) would be paid for with state or federal
funds.
MS. DOUGLAS replied that Alaska Airlines carries management
responsibilities for the majority of Alaska's rural airport
terminals, not DOTPF. She explained that DOTPF has co-
sponsorship agreements for the Sitka and Ketchikan airports.
These agreements (with the Sitka City and Borough and the
Ketchikan Gateway Borough (KGB), respectively) result in a
shared responsibility. She explained that, in Ketchikan, KGB
operates the airport and DOTPF owns the airport. In Sitka, DOTPF
operates the airport, and the terminal is owned by the borough.
With respect to funding for rural airport maintenance, she
explained that Alaska Airlines or Grant Aviation are responsible
for updating those terminals. While DOTPF does focus on
maintenance updates (e.g. roofs) and fire safety, AIP funds are
not used in those locations because the terminals are owned by
private companies.
2:49:24 PM
MR. MILLS added that DOTPF does not own any airport terminals.
He noted that the last terminal DOTPF owned was in Skagway.
2:49:35 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked who owns the terminals.
MR. MILLS replied that he does not know who purchased the
Skagway terminal. He shared his understanding that the terminal
is run very well. He said that the City of Homer owns the Homer
terminal. Likewise in Ketchikan, Sitka, Unalaska, and Adak,
among others. He opined that co-sponsorship agreements are
advantageous.
2:50:29 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked for additional information and said he has
heard conflicting reports.
MR. MILLS said he would be happy to share information and to
hear those reports.
2:50:47 PM
SENATOR KIEHL said that he has heard reports that wind has
caused ceiling tiles to fall in the Skagway terminal.
MR. MILLS said he would investigate this.
2:51:07 PM
MS. DOUGLAS advanced to Slide 10, Rural Airport System Executed
Grants, which showed the number of executed grants per year from
2018 2024:
[Original punctuation provided.]
[Slide 10 contains a bar chart with the following
data:]
Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
Executed Grants per Year
2018 - 37
2019 - 25
2020 - 39
2021 - 82
2022 - 92
2023 - 66
2024 - 83
MS. DOUGLAS said there was a significant shift in the number of
grants during this timeframe. She briefly discussed the shift in
perspective regarding the grant program and offered examples to
illustrate this change. She explained that, under the new
funding structure, each project has its own grant. This change
resulted in an increase in paperwork; however, it created a
simpler grant closeout process. There are roughly 90 grants
scheduled for 2025, the bulk of which fall under the maintenance
program. She explained that ordering more equipment with federal
funds would help the maintenance staff, as there is a limited
general fund budget for maintenance. She said that previously,
DOTPF spent $2 million per year in equipment (graders, loaders,
etc.) and now anticipates spending $15-20 million per year to
ensure the fleet has the necessary equipment. Updating
maintenance equipment is a priority, as it improves the life of
the runway and supports the teams to keep the runways open. This
will remain a priority until the fleet has all the necessary
equipment.
2:54:15 PM
MS. DOUGLAS advanced to Slide 11, Upcoming Rural Airport
Projects:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Upcoming Rural Airport Projects
• Ketchikan Terminal Expansion
• Buckland Airport Improvements
• Kotzebue Crosswind Runway Improvements
• Deering Airport and Access Road Improvements
• Unalaska Apron and Taxiway Pavement
Rehabilitation
• Takotna Airport Improvements
• Kwigillingok Airport Improvements
• Nunam Iqua Airport Improvements
• Murphy's Pullout Seaplane Basin Expansion
• Talkeetna Airport Lighting Improvements
• Haines Repaving, Drainage, and Lighting
• Bethel Taxiway, Apron, Fencing Improvements, and
Service Road
• Kokhanok Resurfacing and Fencing
• Mountain Village Snow Removal Equipment Building
Replacement
• Seward Snow Removal Equipment Building and Sand
Storage Building
• Seward Airport Improvements
• Noatak Airport Relocation
• Tununak Airport Rehabilitation
• Ketchikan Seaplane Ramp Relocation and Floats
Removal
MS. DOUGLAS said these projects are in the queue for
construction in the coming years. The first few are planned to
go to grant in 2025 - they will likely begin construction in
2026. She noted that this data is available on the Alaska
Aviation System Plan website.
2:56:02 PM
MS. DOUGLAS advanced to Slide 12 and discussed rural aviation
projects that are underway. She noted that safety is the focus
of most FAA funding:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Underway Rural Aviation Projects
Advertised or Awarded:
State of Good Repair / Safety
Buckland (FFY24-25)
Chalkyitsik (FFY23-24)
Chenega Bay (FFY24)
Chevak (FFY24)
Deadhorse (24)
Homer (FFY23)
Kodiak (FFY24)
Kwethluk (23)
Nightmute (FFY24)
Economic Vitality (Rural Access)
Coldfoot (FFY24)
Marshall (FFY23-24)
Mekoryuk (FFY23/24)
Noorvik (FFY24)
Wrangell (FFY23)
Sustainability (Equipment Buildings and Terminals)
Akutan Generators (FFY24)
Chignik SREB (FFY23)
False Pass SREB (FFY24)
Sitka SREB (FFY23)
Mekoryuk SREB (FFY23-24)
Sitka Terminal (FFY24-25)
Valdez SREB (FFY24)
2:56:49 PM
MS. DOUGLAS advanced to Slide 13, and discussed the AIP funding
breakdown for FFY2024:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Funding Breakdown
FFY2024:
FFY2025-2026 State Match 5.0 percent
Cargo Entitlements ($12.6M)
Earned By Airports with More Than 100 Million Pounds
Landed Weight
Primary Passenger Entitlement ($31.6M)
Earned By Airports with More Than 10,000 Enplaned
Passengers and Scheduled Commercial Service
Non-primary Passenger Entitlement ($24.3M)
Earned By Airports with Fewer Than 10,000 Enplaned
Passengers Annually
State Appropriation ($20.7M)
An Area/Population Formula Used After Cargo/Passenger
Entitlements Calculated
Alaska Supplemental ($21.0M)
Congressional Amount Based On 1980 Amounts
Discretionary ($95.5M)
What Remains Divided Among 50 States
MS. DOUGLAS commented that DOTPF received a resiliency
supplemental discretionary grant for Yakutat airport master
plan. She explained that this frees up additional funds for
another priority project.
2:58:42 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN noted the time and suggested a second
presentation.
2:58:55 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN noted that the Seward airport is on the list for
upcoming improvements and requested additional information. He
asked if there is a way to track the various other funding
sources that come into DOTPF from airports. Specifically, he
asked if there is a way to track funding from a particular
airport - so that it can then return to that same airport - or
if it was placed in a general fund.
MS. DOUGLAS said that Alaska's entitlement funding is unique, as
most airports are rural (and DOTPF operates 235 airports across
the state). She stated that DOTPF pools entitlement funding into
specific projects and briefly explained this process. She
emphasized that DOTPF utilizes all entitlement funds.
3:01:29 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Bjorkman adjourned the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting at 3:01 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Snow Operations SEF Updated 20250306.pdf |
STRA 3/6/2025 1:30:00 PM |
Winter Snow Operations |
| REPORT - 2022 Leg Intent - Road Prioritiy Method and Input.pdf |
STRA 3/6/2025 1:30:00 PM |
Winter Snow Operations |
| Appendix A - 2022 Leg Intent - Road Prioritiy Method and Input.pdf |
STRA 3/6/2025 1:30:00 PM |
Winter Snow Operations |
| Appendix B - 2022 Leg Intent - Road Prioritiy Method and Input.pdf |
STRA 3/6/2025 1:30:00 PM |
Winter Snow Operations |
| FACT SHEET - APWA Salt Brine 2016.pdf |
STRA 3/6/2025 1:30:00 PM |
Winter Snow Operations |
| Rural Aviation Overview 20250306.pdf |
STRA 3/6/2025 1:30:00 PM |
Rural Aviation Overview |
| 20250407 (S)TRAN 3-6-25 Response Letter.pdf |
STRA 3/6/2025 1:30:00 PM |