HOUSE BILL NO. 191 An Act authorizing financing for certain public transportation projects; giving notice of and approving the entry into, and the issuance of revenue obligations that provide participation in, lease-financing agreements for those transportation projects; and providing for an effective date. Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to ADOPT work draft 22LS766\J, dated 4/26/01. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. PETER ECKLUND, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS provided information on the proposed committee substitute. He noted that projects were spread out through rural Alaska. A project in Kodiak was added. Projects in Matsu were exchanged at the same dollar amount. Representative Davies noted that other versions of the bill contained projects in rural Alaska relating to resurfacing for dust control. Mr. Ecklund noted that there are projects for area roads in rural Alaska, which would be for blacktopping or dust controlled. KURT PARKAN, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES explained that projects in the original legislation for dust control were part of a $15 million dollar component. Some of these projects are included on page 2. Items 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 were part of the original package of projects. Almost $10 million of the $15 million dollar request was included. Representative Croft clarified that no funding was included for Barrow road resurfacing and only one of the requested fast ferries were included. Ten million dollars for area roads and trails in Fairbanks were not included. The Soldotna East Redoubt Avenue rehabilitation was fully funded. Mr. Parkan noted that STIP projects were included. Representative John Davies MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1: delete "Fairbanks: South Cushman Street Improvements" and insert "Borough Wide Road and Trail" on page 2, line 28. This is the Boroughs 5th priority. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Representative Croft MOVED to ADOPT Amendment: Delete: Anchorage: Glenn Highway, Gambell Street to McCarrey Street - $58,180; Anchorage: Abbott Loop North Extension 15,000,000; and Insert: Barrow Road Resurfacing $10.0 Fast Ferries $35.0 Fairbanks North Star Borough Area Road and Trails $7 Rural Village Road Surfacing $9.35 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway $2.83 Co-Chair Williams OBJECTED. Representative Croft spoke in support of the amendment. He noted that the Glenn Highway extension is unpopular in his area. Removal of this project would allow it to continue on a slower process. He observed that there is significant objections to the Abbott Loop North extension. He stressed that it would not be appropriate to have the project on an expedited basis. Co-Chair Mulder stressed that there is a 30 - 45 minute bottleneck moving in and out of Anchorage during rush hour. He maintained that the bottleneck will become a "Seattle type" one hour to an hour and a half traffic jam. He emphasized that the project would address future concerns and noted that the expansion would not occur for another decade. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Croft, Davies, OPPOSED: Foster, Harris, Hudson, Lancaster, Whitaker, Bunde, Mulder, Williams Representative Moses was absent from the vote. The MOTION FAILED (2-8). Representative Foster MOVED to report CSHB 191 (FIN) out of Committee with the accompanying fiscal note. Vice-Chair Bunde expressed concern with the East Anchorage expansion project, but did not object to moving the bill from Committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSHB 191 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a new fiscal impact note by the Department of Revenue.