HOUSE BILL NO. 421 "An Act making supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 9(a) Capital - Highways and Aviation Whittier Tunnel portal jet fan replacement due to catastrophic failure of the #2 portal jet fan. Jet fans are necessary to operate the Whittier Tunnel as they force the carbon monoxide gases out of the tunnel. There are two fans at each end of the tunnel - one is for normal use and the other is required backup during repair or failure of the other. Without this second fan, the tunnel must be closed to accommodate any maintenance of the remaining fan. $504.2 GF NANCY SLAGLE, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, explained that request 9(a), for the replacement of a backup jet fan in the Whittier Tunnel, is a safety issue. The fan has been ordered and needs to be in place before the high- traffic season. Section 9(b) Capital - Airport Improvement Program Appropriation The Airport Improvement Program Appropriation will increase by $15,100.0 from $470,150.1 to $485,250.1 because of the increases in the allocations listed below: Section 9(c) Capital - Airport Improvement Program Allocation Amended: Cordova: Airport Runway Safety Area Expansion $3,000.0 FF Section 9(d) Capital - Airport Improvement Program Allocation New: Unalakleet: Airport Paving $12,100.0 FF Ms. Slagle reported that 9(c), the airport improvement program in Cordova, is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) special project, which provided grant funds last August. The runway safety area is deficient, and FAA is constructing an arresting system rather than increasing the size of the runway. The grant also provides for snow removal equipment and warranty for repairs. The plan is to install the system in April with completion sometime in July. Co-Chair Meyer asked if this item requires a state match. Ms. Slagle replied that it does. She explained how the match is achieved. Co-Chair Meyer asked if the money is being taken from another project. Ms. Slagle said it is not. Ms. Slagle spoke to 9(d), which involves paving the Unalakleet airport runway. This project was also funded by a FAA two-year grant received in August. She pointed out that degradation of the runway has caused jet engine damage and Northern Air Cargo will not land there anymore. Advertising has been sent out and the project has to be completed within the two-year time frame. Section 9(e) Capital - Surface Transportation Program Allocation The Surface Transportation Program appropriation will increase by $15,000.0 from $373,604.7 to $388,604.7 because of the increase to the allocation listed below: Section 9(f) Capital - Surface Transportation Program Allocation Amended: National Highway System (NHS) and Non-NHS Pavement and Bridge Refurbishment $15,000 FF Ms. Slagle explained that 9(e) is the appropriation level for 9(f). She related the types of repair work covered in this preventative maintenance program. Examples of these projects include Homer area paving, Palmer roads, Seward Highway, Fairbanks ditches and storm drains, Tok cutoff, Steese expressway, Chena road, Wrangell roads, Petersberg roads, and Yakatut paving. 1:53:44 PM Co-Chair Meyer asked if there is a state match on that item as well. Ms. Slagle said the state match is less than 10 percent. Representative Hawker asked if the federal government had earmarked those projects. Ms. Slagle said no. The Department of Transportation determined that those projects were cost beneficial and needed the most. Representative Hawker requested information on the evaluation process to choose the projects. Ms. Slagle explained the evaluation process and offered to provide more information on the criteria. Representative Hawker asked if the determination involved public input. Ms. Slagle explained the project review process. 1:56:08 PM Ms. Slagle explained the amendment proposed on 2/06/06, DOT A, $1,500.0 Federal Funds, regarding the Kotzebue sand building. Early approval of this project will allow a contract to be awarded in April 2006. Then there will be time for the contractor to order, obtain, and barge the materials before freeze up in 2006 to avoid losing a season of construction time. Ms. Slagle related that because of delays in the Nome airport project, flexibility in the program allowed this project to be added. This grant project is also a match. HB 421 was heard and HELD in Committee for further consideration. 1:58:23 PM Co-Chair Chenault presided over HB 369.