HOUSE BILL NO. 115 "An Act designating a portion of Minnesota Drive in Anchorage the Walter J. Hickel Expressway." 9:06:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON presented the bill renaming a portion of Minnesota Drive and a portion of O'Malley Road in Anchorage to the Walter J. Hickel Expressway after the former governor. The road starts downtown and leads past Walter Hickel's home and business. Representative Johnson believed it was time to honor Walter Hickel and the road was an appropriate measure. The governor was pro- development and the road honors him well. YASMINE HABASH, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON presented the bill that concurrently names a 7.5 mile portion of Minnesota Drive and O'Malley Road in Anchorage to the Walter J. Hickel Expressway. The road extends from 15th Avenue to the New Seward Highway. No establishments will be required to change their addresses. Governor Hickel served as governor twice and as U. S. Secretary of the Interior under President Richard Nixon and advocated for the development of the state of Alaska and the circumpolar arctic region. He successfully opened Prudhoe Bay to oil development and oversaw the permitting process for the Tran-Alaska pipeline. He was a great advocate for public roads and transportation. Co-Chair Stoltze asked if the bill was similar to the Eisenhower Corridor. Representative Johnson agreed that was correct. The reason for the concurrent names was so that people and businesses along the road would not to have to change their addresses. Co-Chair Stoltze asked if it was similar to the Veterans Memorial Highway. Representative Johnson agreed it was similar to many things that have been co-named. Co-Chair Stoltze acknowledged that it was a better way of handling the situation rather than forcing people to change addresses. Mr. Menefee stated that originally a shorter section was chosen that did not impact any businesses, but in terms of honoring a great Alaskan, it was important to name the entire stretch. Representative Costello pointed out a touching letter from Walter Hickel's wife (copy on file). Representative Johnson added that the family supported the name change honor. Co-Chair Thomas asked why not rename the Haul Road. Representative Johnson did not want to compete with the Dalton family as the road is officially known as the James W. Dalton Highway. Co-Chair Stoltze noted that the Dalton Highway was named after James Dalton of Fairbanks who played a significant part in building the highway. Representative Johnson interjected that the Anchorage road runs by Walter Hickel's business and home. KIRK WICKERSHAM, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), supported the bill and hopes it will pass out. He always thought of Minnesota as a temporary name for the road and believed it was appropriate to name the road after Walter Hickel. The former governor is missed and held in the hearts of many Alaskans. Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony. Co-Chair Stoltze noted in the fiscal note the building of signs for the highway. He asked if the signs would be the brown signs. Representative Johnson replied he would not be part of the sign design, but had asked the department to design something appropriate for the governor. 9:16:33 AM Representative Guttenberg indicated his great respect for the former governor. Co-Chair Thomas remarked that the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities should design an appropriate sign for a governor. Representative Doogan noted his many encounters with Governor Hickel. He believed Hickel to be a man of firm principles who never backed down when he believed he was right. He agreed that the former governor was one of the most important Alaska politicians in last half of the 20th century. He supported the bill. He hoped people, when seeing the name on the highway would research and learn more about the former governor. Co-Chair Stoltze noted the former governor's deep imprint on Alaska. Representative Edgmon supported the bill. He remarked that Walter Hickel was one of the great visionaries of the state. Originally many rural leaders were worried, but later learned to appreciate the former governor's vision and impact. He would like the record to reflect his legacy. Representative Joule acknowledged that he did not originally appreciate the former governor's visions, but later realized he had many great ideas. He would like Alaska to be more forward looking today. There was no question he was a great man. 9:21:54 AM Representative Gara agreed with Representative Joule, that as a democrat he originally did not share the former governor's vision. He was surprised by what Governor Hickel did as a governor in standing up for Alaska. He proved to be an independently minded person. Co-Chair Stoltze did not believe any other governor has had as great an impact as Governor Hickel. Vice-chair Fairclough commented on the fiscal note for the roadway identification signs. There was a onetime allocation of $30,000 for signs. Vice-chair Fairclough MOVED to report CSHB 115(TRA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSHB 115(TRA) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with new fiscal impact note from the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. 9:24:33 AM AT EASE 9:29:15 AM RECONVENED