SB 53-APPROP.: BRIDGES, SERVICE ROADS, TRAILS  1:40:21 PM SENATOR KOOKESH announced the consideration of SB 53. SENATOR GENE THERRIAULT, Sponsor of SB 53, said he initially brought this legislation forward last year to bring attention to bridge maintenance and repair needs statewide. Often legislators center on the needs of their districts, which over the years has resulted in a loss of focus on the fact that the state needs a statewide transportation system. Bridge structures are one component of the statewide highway system. Acknowledging that he is under no delusion that a separate appropriation bill is likely to pass the body, he said he is making this appropriation request to highlight the need statewide. Hopefully this will foster discussion and catch the ear of finance committee members and perhaps they will steer some state resources toward the bridge infrastructure needs across the state. SENATOR THERRIAULT explained that Section 1 asks for a $25 million general fund appropriation to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for design, planning, and construction or repairs on existing bridges on the state highway system. Section 2 asks for a $10 million general fund appropriation to the statutorily existing, local service roads and trails (LSRT) program, which has not been funded in a number of years. This section of law talks about DOTPF nominating small road projects to a list and addressing them as LSRT funds are available. 1:43:15 PM SENATOR THERRIAULT related that local governments benefited from this program because small projects that didn't qualify for funding through the federal highway stream could be accomplished. He has been involved in a number of such projects and he would suggest that if money for big projects is tight, perhaps some small projects could be accomplished if the LSRT program were to be funded. He noted that last year DOTPF testified that restarting the LSRT program would take time. Since it was well supported in the 1980s he thought that while he was asking for money, he would bring attention to the fact that the law is still on the books. SENATOR THERRIAULT said DOTPF has provided information on bridge work that has been done and projects that might be targeted. The packet includes pictures of bridge structures and some clearly demonstrate deplorable states of disrepair. He initially brought the legislation forward following the disastrous bridge collapse in Minnesota. The travelling public takes it for granted that the highways and bridges they travel on are adequately maintained. That's not always the case and, unfortunately, some structures in this state could be close to catastrophic failure. Highlighting that fact and steering funds to chip away at that problem is the right thing to do, he said. 1:46:29 PM SENATOR MEYER said he doesn't have copies of the pictures. SENATOR THERRIAULT apologized and offered to make copies available. SENATOR MEYER questioned the necessity of the bill since a lot of the stimulus money is for this purpose. SENATOR THERRIAULT suggested that Mr. Healy could speak to that. ROGER HEALY, Chief Engineer, Division of Design & Engineering Services, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF), said this bill is not irrelevant. The department's report explains that bridge projects take time and the timelines of the stimulus do not fit well with the requirements and time to build or replace a bridge. Coast Guard clearances, state historical preservation clearances, and hydraulic analysis all take time and those processes don't fit well with the stimulus. 1:49:41 PM SENATOR MEYER questioned whether the appropriation is sufficient to address all the bridge and road needs. He recalled DOTPF stating it has a $10 million backlog. MR. HEALY said this amount of money won't fix all the problems, but it gives the department flexibility to immediately direct resources where they are imminently needed. While most federal money will be tied up in major projects, this money goes to repair essential infrastructure. These projects aren't high profile. SENATOR MEYER questioned why the request isn't simply added to the governor's capital budget. SENATOR THERRIAULT again stated that he is under no delusion that a separate appropriation bill will make it through the committee process. Although the transportation committee doesn't generally debate the need for bridges, he said he'd like that debate to start here. Hopefully this will spark thought so that when it comes time for the finance committee to amend the governor's capital budget there will be a realization that bridges need some focus. $25 million is an arbitrary number and he realizes the statewide need is much larger. He explained that he directed DOTPF to list the bridges that have the highest need and he would note that a number of them fall on major transportation routes. 1:53:52 PM SENATOR DAVIS observed that when DOTPF gave this committee a department overview several weeks ago they reported that they were on track with respect to bridge inspections and repairs. Because she understood that DOTPF wouldn't ask for additional money, she questions the need for this appropriation. MR. HEALY apologized that he wasn't at that meeting. He said he believes that this kind of appropriation is needed because bridge maintenance and repair needs are ever increasing. For example, the Seward Highway bridges are limited to one lane of traffic and a recent inspection of the Tyee Bridge in Skagway showed that it too is in need of repair. It's a federal requirement to inspect these structures every two years, but accidents happen and things deteriorate in the meantime. This would be a state funded program, which would allow a great deal of flexibility that isn't available in a federal program. Given the length of the list and the other needs mentioned, the total repairs will be sizeable. "In any case, I would speak in favor of this," he said. 1:57:27 PM SENATOR PASKVAN expressed discomfort asking this one committee to prioritize how DOTPF ought to spend $25 million. He asked if this will result in different factions within the department using this committee to get ahead of the game. MR. HEALY said no; a road network is a vital part of the state's economy and bridges are an essential link. Right now DOTPF is struggling with the Seward Highway and commerce is affected. When bridges are weight-limited truckers can't carry legal loads and tour buses are impacted. SENATOR PASKVAN said he understands the concept of needs, but it's always as compared to what. This discussion is about the needs of bridges and he's uncomfortable saying that this need is more important than a need that he doesn't know about. DOTPF should be presenting an assessment of their overall needs and priorities, not just the bridge component. It's not that the need isn't there; I know about bridge needs, he added. 2:01:08 PM SENATOR THERRIAULT said Mr. Healy is here to express an opinion on behalf of the commissioner and department; they see a need and support the legislation. Passing the bill on to the finance committee would be an expression of support that bridge maintenance and repair is a statewide problem. That committee will determine what, if any, level of funding to build into the capital budget. Clearly, this bill will not make it to the Senate floor, but this is an avenue for the transportation committee to express support for bridge projects, he said. Keep in mind that traffic can continue to flow if there is a frost heave or a pot-hole in the road, but if a bridge collapses or is downgraded it becomes a potential chokepoint on the highway system. SENATOR MEYER expressed the view that there is nothing wrong with letting the finance committee know that bridges and roads are important. That should be expected from the transportation committee. However, if there are specific bridge projects that are "must haves" for DOTPF, that should be in the governor's capital budget. They should be out in the open and not through the backdoor as a separate appropriation bill, he stated. 2:04:34 PM SENATOR THERRIAULT clarified that DOTPF is here at his request. "I'm the one who came up with the idea of how do we focus some attention on the bridge network and they're just here supporting my request," he said. BRAD SCHWARTZ, Transportation Planning Manager, Mat-Su Borough, stated support for SB 53. He said that DOTPF and local governments often have difficulty finding adequate funding to provide needed transportation infrastructure to keep pace with growth. Oftentimes bridges are on the short end of the funding spectrum until a serious problem arises. While this bill will provide for a portion of these immediate needs, there is also need for a long-term mechanism to provide stable funding for both construction and maintenance. Residents and nonresidents alike need to know that they are driving on a safe bridge and highway system. This bill will bring that goal closer. SENATOR KOOKESH closed public testimony. He stated support for bridges, roads, and trails and asked the committee's indulgence to allow this dialog to continue in the finance committee. SENATOR MEYER expressed the view that bridges ought to be given serious consideration as the capital budget is prepared, and emphasized that if a particular bridge needs immediate repair that specific project should be in the governor's capital budget. SENATOR MENARD described the bill as a call for attention and said she is comfortable moving it along so the finance committee can take a look. SENATOR PASKVAN questioned whether the committee should keep the arbitrary $25 million figure in the bill or send the message with no dollar amount attached. SENATOR KOOKESH commented that any number this committee picks will be arbitrary so he would be comfortable sending the number the sponsor selected. 2:10:16 PM SENATOR THERRIAULT informed members that the bill he introduced last year was forwarded to finance from the transportation committee and perhaps it sparked attention because $20 million was included in the capital bond package. That money is already being put to good use on bridges that have become problematic. Although some may think this bill is a waste of time, it does advance the discussion, he stated. SENATOR KOOKESH recalled the discussion last year centered on the difference between using general fund money versus federal funds for emergency repairs. SENATOR MENARD cautioned against backdoor approaches. SENATOR THERRIAULT highlighted the difference between operational and capital expenditures and what elicits discussion in the building. In general, discussions about capital expenditures are left to the finance committee; there's never been much input from the transportation committee, for example, about problems associated with the transportation system. SENATOR MENARD characterized DOTPF as an entity that gets a lot of controls but that doesn't go through as many processes as other departments. SENATOR THERRIAULT suggested that DOTPF takes care of a larger group of capital assets than any other state agency. CHAIR KOOKESH asked the will of the committee. 2:14:33 PM SENATOR MEYER moved to report [SB 53] from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, SB 53 moved from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.