HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE April 9, 1997 1:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bill Williams, Chairman Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chairman Representative John Cowdery Representative Bill Hudson Representative Jerry Sanders Representative Kim Elton Representative Al Kookesh MEMBERS ABSENT All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15(FIN) Relating to reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. - MOVED CSSJR 15(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE (* First public hearing) PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: SJR 15 SHORT TITLE: REAUTHORIZATION OF ISTEA SPONSOR(S): TRANSPORTATION JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 02/17/97 379 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S) 02/17/97 379 (S) FINANCE 03/10/97 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 03/10/97 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 03/13/97 716 (S) FIN RPT CS 4DP 1NR SAME TITLE 03/13/97 716 (S) DP: SHARP, PEARCE, PHILLIPS, PARNELL 03/13/97 716 (S) NR: ADAMS 03/13/97 716 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (S.FIN) 03/18/97 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP RM 203 03/18/97 (S) MINUTE(RLS) 03/21/97 803 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR & 1DP 3/21/97 03/21/97 805 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME 03/21/97 806 (S) FIN CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT 03/21/97 806 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT 03/21/97 806 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSJR 15(FIN) 03/21/97 806 (S) PASSED Y15 N- E4 A1 03/21/97 810 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 03/24/97 800 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S) 03/24/97 800 (H) TRANSPORTATION 04/09/97 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17 WITNESS REGISTER CRAIG JOHNSON, Legislative Assistant to Senator Jerry Ward Alaska State Legislature Capitol Building, Room 423 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Telephone: (907) 465-4940 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SJR 15. SAM KITO, Legislative Liaison Special Assistant Office of the Commissioner Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 3132 Channel Drive Juneau, Alaska 99801 Telephone: (907) 465-3904 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 15. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 97-21, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN BILL WILLIAMS called the House Transportation Standing Committee to order at 1:00 p.m. Members present at the call to order were Representatives Williams, Masek, Cowdery, Hudson, Sanders, Elton and Kookesh. CSSJR 15(FIN) - REAUTHORIZATION OF ISTEA CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced the committee would hear CSSJR 15(FIN), "Relating to reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991." He stated that the reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), is one of the more critical issues in front of congress this year, the bulk of our highway funds come to our state through this program. Number 081 CRAIG JOHNSON, Legislative Assistant to Senator Jerry Ward, stated that this legislation calls for congress to re-enact ISTEA, which is due to expire September 30, 1997. Basically since 1991, Alaska has received over $1 billion in federal funds from the ISTEA program which accounts for one-third of Alaska's total transportation budget in that period. He stated that this resolution calls for an increase in funding to the state of Alaska if possible, but in any case, that the funds not be reduced. He stated that it calls for the use of ISTEA funds to repair existing transportation infra-structures and calls upon congress to allow the states more flexibility in the use of the funds. It also asks for recognition of Alaska's unique Arctic and Sub-Arctic climate which is very unique to the states in utilizing the funds. He stated that it also asks that ISTEA now require major investment studies as mandated by the Federal Highway Regulations for Alaska. Basically any expansion of more than 1-mile requires a study, that we are asking not be required by the state of Alaska. This resolution also calls for ISTEA funds to build low volume roads. He stated that there is no need for a road that handles 20 to 30 cars a day outside Nome to be built to the same standards as Egan Drive and in some cases this is the situation. ISTEA also calls for the funds to improve pioneer access and historical roadways and trails. He believed that a strong signal to our delegation in Washington that we support this resolution, would go a long way in helping ISTEA pass in its existing form or in an improved form to benefit the state of Alaska. Number 258 REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COWDERY stated that he noticed this resolution is a committee substitute and asked how this resolution is different from the original. Number 477 MR. JOHNSON replied that it is not significantly different. There was some language about trails that was added, the Arctic and Sub- Arctic conditions was added, basically minor technical changes reorganizing that Alaska is unique. There were no major changes to the overall impact of the resolution. Number 313 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that page 3, lines 10 through 12, states "Further resolved, that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests that Congress to allow for a portion of the enhancement set aside funds to be used to maintain or improve pioneer access trails and historical roadways;" and asked if he could explain that. Number 338 MR. JOHNSON replied that Sam Kito, legislative liason for DOT/PF,649 would probably be able to answer it better, but his basic understanding is that if there are pioneer trails and roads, we could use the funds to enhance those existing trails. Number 371 REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON stated that he is fully in support of the legislation and believes that given the presentation in front of the legislature by Senator Stevens, that it is very important that we identify those elements in ISTEA that are under study for change, that would affect us or harm us. He stated that it is important that we give the Senator and our congressional delegation a strong message from the legislature that it is extremely important and we do not want any changes that will harm us. He stated that as far as using some of the enhancement funds to improve pioneer access trails and historical roadways, it is something that we have requested before and thinks that it is the right thing to do as it will give us another element of flexibility. Number 477 SAM KITO, Legislative Liaison, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, stated that the department would like to go on record as strongly supporting SJR 15, which provides for continuation of the ISTEA provisions that are beneficial to Alaska. He stated that one of the key items, that a lot of other states are also looking at, is removing the requirement for a major investment study which is something that is also outlined in this resolution. He stated that in reference to the specific comment about using transportation enhancement funds for pioneer access trails, he doesn't have a specific answer. He stated that he does have an answer based on some of the comments offered in the Senate Finance Standing Committee. He stated Senator Torgerson's interest was to try and take some of the funding that we have received for transportation enhancement and turn it back into maintenance or upgrading some of the trails that we have in the state. He stated that he does not know how that will result in congress but it sends a message to congress that the intent of the legislature is that we try and maintain our flexibility for use of the transportation enhancement or trail funds. Number 587 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that there is a history to historical access and pioneer access and that history can have a fairly dramatic effect on landowners, whether it is corporate lands or private lands. He assumed that when you are talking about the enhancement set aside funds that this is a diversion of funds from historical overlooks or bike trails to this new category of identifying access trails or improving access trails. Number 649 MR. KITO replied, "My of that is more of an expansion of the ability to use funds for multiple purposes, not directing from the legislature that they be used for the specific purpose but providing that the members of congress recognize the state of Alaska's unique situation and allow the use of these funds for more than just the standard trails that you see in the lower 48." He stated that it is a recognition of another possible use of the transportation enhancement funds. Number 700 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON made a motion to move CSSJR 15(FIN), 0- LS0505, Version F, with individual recommendations, asked unanimous consent, with a zero fiscal note. Number 720 REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK stated that she had a comment to make. She stated that she has been working on this issue since she got to Juneau and spent a lot of time with the commissioner. She stated that right now we are number 28 amongst all the states that we have to compete against. She stated that she was told that it is going to be really difficult to stay at 28 but sending this resolution down will really be helpful to the state of Alaska because we are competing with state's like California and Texas, that have a lot more highways and a lot more people and they put a lot more money back into the system. She stated that it is really important that we follow through as to the kind of changes we are going to make and how it is going to affect Alaska. She stated as far as the trails go, it will be interesting to see if they will allow that type of money to go into trails. From what she understands the money is going basically for the highways and mass transit programs and it will be interesting to see if they are going to shift gears and change it. She stated that she fully supports this resolution and we should send it down to Washington D.C. as soon as possible. Number 834 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there was any objections, hearing none, CSSJR 15(FIN) moved from the House Transportation Standing Committee. ADJOURNMENT CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS adjourned the House Transportation Standing Committee at 1:20 p.m.