ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE  July 22, 2025 1:04 p.m. DRAFT MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Ashley Carrick, Co-Chair Representative Ted Eischeid, Co-Chair Representative Genevieve Mina Representative Louise Stutes Representative Elexie Moore MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Kevin McCabe Representative Cathy Tilton COMMITTEE CALENDAR  OVERVIEW(S): Summer Construction Outlook and Federal Match Funding Veto Update - HEARD EXECUTIVE SESSION PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER No witnesses to record ACTION NARRATIVE 1:08:37 PM CO-CHAIR CARRICK called the House Transportation Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:08 p.m. Representatives Mina, Stutes, Carrick, and Eischeid were present at the call to order. ^OVERVIEW(S): Summer Construction Outlook and Federal Match Funding Veto Update 1:09:04 PM CO-CHAIR CARRICK announced that the only order of business would be an overview titled "Summer Construction Outlook and Federal Match Funding Veto Update" by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. [Commissioner Ryan Anderson and other members of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, as invited testifiers, were absent from the meeting and an executive session was held.] 1:09:54 PM CO-CHAIR CARRICK stated that the purpose of the committee meeting was to discuss the impacts of the governor's veto of state matching funds for the Federal Highway Program and the Federal Aviation Program. She noted that the amount of the matching funds totaled $62 million. She stated that Amendment 2 to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) was also scheduled to be discussed, along with DOT&PF's redistribution of funds. She explained that the vetoed state funding would have a 90 percent federal match, or around $600 million. She continued that because of the veto, the legislature would have to make up around $70 million in its supplemental budget for projects. She added that this would just be one of several budget issues with the state. CO-CHAIR CARRICK stated that the committee has received conflicting communication from the commissioner and deputy commissioner of DOT&PF about upcoming transportation projects. She noted that an error in the previous year's STIP has already resulted in a cut in federal funding. She further discussed appropriated funds, expressing the understanding that the Juneau Access Road project had been put forward without the necessary feasibility study. She stated that because of this, and opposition from local communities, the funding was reappropriated to other transportation projects; however, these funds have now been vetoed. CO-CHAIR CARRICK reiterated that there were no representatives from DOT&PF at the meeting. She stated that she would quote several questions for the record directed to DOT&PF. For the first question, she asked whether there is a plan and timeframe for the Federal Highway Program's review of Amendment 2 to STIP, and whether this timeline would be concurrent with the Federal Transit Administration's timeline, so the funds could be secured. Next, she questioned the difference between the version of Amendment 2 in the public notice and the version submitted to the Federal Highway Administration. Concerning the appropriation of Federal Aviation Program funds for projects in the northern region of the state, she questioned which of these projects would be subject to the veto. She continued, questioning the amount of funds that would still be available for aviation and highway projects as of July 1, 2025. Next, she questioned whether there would be funding shortfalls for the projects slated for 2026. She asked about the impact if no supplemental budget were made to cover the vetoed funds. CO-CHAIR CARRICK questioned the reasoning for the veto concerning the Juneau Access Road project, as the project was under the initial bid process at the time. She questioned whether a contract has been awarded for this project. She questioned whether this project is more important than the gain of $270 million in a federal match. She asked about the status of the feasibility study and whether there would be funding for this. She expressed the understanding that the department is pursuing this project regardless. Without an emergency action by the legislature, she expressed the understanding that the federal shortfalls from the veto would not be made up in the current year's budget or for fiscal year 2026. CO-CHAIR CARRICK stated that DOT&PF has received these questions, with a timeline for the response. She expressed the opinion that this has significant impacts for all types of transportation across the state. 1:19:30 PM CO-CHAIR EISCHEID expressed disappointment that Commissioner Ryan Anderson was not able to attend the current committee meeting. He added that the committee had not been given an earlier notice of his unavailability. He discussed a previous meeting he had had with the commissioner, as it had been productive. He expressed the hope that he could continue the conversation on transportation issues in East Anchorage. He reiterated the reasons for calling the current meeting, explaining that the legislature had reallocated funding to balance the state's budget, and this was so the state could meet the requirement to match federal funds for critical transportation projects. He noted that this concerns the required $60 million match to receive the federal funding. He argued that the federal funding, along with the state match, would provide benefits to all Alaskans. He spoke in support of holding an executive session to discuss the absence of the commissioner. ^EXECUTIVE SESSION EXECUTIVE SESSION  1:22:34 PM CO-CHAIR EISCHEID moved and asked unanimous consent that the House Transportation Standing Committee go into executive session under Uniform Rule 22(b)(2) for matters that may, by law, be required to be confidential. He asked that the following persons remain in the room or online: the House Transportation Standing Committee and staff and other legislators not on the committee. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 1:23:06 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:23 p.m. to 1:59 p.m. for the purpose of an executive session. 1:59:03 PM CO-CHAIR CARRICK called the meeting back to order and delivered committee announcements. 2:00:09 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.