ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE  May 4, 2023 1:47 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator James Kaufman, Chair Senator Löki Tobin Senator Robert Myers MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator David Wilson, Vice Chair Senator Jesse Kiehl COMMITTEE CALENDAR  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 128(TRA) "An Act relating to the operation of a tank vessel or oil barge as an oil terminal facility; relating to the definition of 'oil terminal facility'; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED CSHB 128(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 129 "An Act naming the Matt Glover Bike Path." - HEARD & HELD SENATE BILL NO. 127 "An Act relating to vehicle rental taxes; relating to the issuance of subpoenas related to tax records; and providing for an effective date." - BILL HEARING CANCELED PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 129 SHORT TITLE: MATT GLOVER BIKE PATH SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MYERS 04/14/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/14/23 (S) TRA 05/04/23 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 BILL: HB 128 SHORT TITLE: OIL TERMINAL FACILITY SPONSOR(s): TRANSPORTATION 03/22/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/22/23 (H) TRA 03/30/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/30/23 (H) Heard & Held 03/30/23 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 04/18/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 04/18/23 (H) Heard & Held 04/18/23 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 04/20/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 04/20/23 (H) Heard & Held 04/20/23 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 04/25/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM DAVIS 106 04/25/23 (H) Moved CSHB 128(TRA) Out of Committee 04/25/23 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 04/26/23 (H) TRA RPT CS(TRA) NEW TITLE 7DP 04/26/23 (H) DP: STUTES, MINA, SUMNER, C.JOHNSON, MCKAY, VANCE, MCCABE 04/26/23 (H) TRA CS ADOPTED Y38 N1 E1 04/28/23 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/28/23 (H) VERSION: CSHB 128(TRA) 05/01/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/01/23 (S) TRA 05/02/23 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 05/02/23 (S) Heard & Held 05/02/23 (S) MINUTE(TRA) 05/04/23 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MCCABE, District 30 Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 128. SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, District Q Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 129. THERESA WOLDSTAD, Staff Senator Robert Myers Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for SB 129 on behalf of the sponsor. ERIC TROYER, Treasurer Fairbanks Cycle Club Fairbanks, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 129. ARIANE GLOVER, representing self North Pole, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 129. ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information during the initial hearing on SB 129. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:47:05 PM CHAIR JAMES KAUFMAN called the Senate Transportation Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:47 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Tobin, Myers, and Chair Kaufman. HB 128-OIL TERMINAL FACILITY  1:47:55 PM CHAIR KAUFMAN announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 128(TRA) "An Act relating to the operation of a tank vessel or oil barge as an oil terminal facility; relating to the definition of 'oil terminal facility'; and providing for an effective date." He noted that this was the second hearing. He invited the sponsor to make final comments. 1:48:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MCCABE, District 30, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that he was carrying HB 128 on behalf of the House Transportation Standing Committee. He explained that the bill seeks to clarify the definition of "oil terminal facility" and the requirements for vessels that are conducting ship-to-ship fuel transfer or are enroute to conducting those operations. The bill makes three substantive changes: 1) it clarifies that tank vessels are oil barges with approved prevention procedures and contingency plans for oil discharges; 2) it meets the requirements for an oil transfer facility, clarifies that tank vessels are oil barges with approved proof of financial ability, and satisfies the requirement for an oil transfer facility; and 3) conforms the definition of oil transfer facility. He noted that the bill has an immediate effective date to ensure that fuel deliveries [to villages] can take place this season. CHAIR KAUFMAN discerned there were no questions or comments and solicited a motion. 1:49:57 PM SENATOR TOBIN moved to report HB 128, work order 33-LSO634\U, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR KAUFMAN found no objection and CSHB 128(TRA) was reported from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee. 1:50:36 PM At ease SB 129-MATT GLOVER BIKE PATH  1:51:52 PM CHAIR KAUFMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 129 "An Act naming the Matt Glover Bike Path." 1:52:12 PM SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, District Q, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 129, introduced the legislation by speaking to the sponsor statement. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) is currently working on a paved bicycle/pedestrian path along the Richardson Highway starting near the intersection of Airport Way/Richardson Highway to the Badger Road/Old Richardson Highway intersection. This project will connect two existing paths to create a continuous path between the two cities. For decades, there has been no way for pedestrians to walk or bike safely between Fairbanks and North Pole. This path, referred to as the MP 357-362 Bicycle/Pedestrian Path, will finally connect these two cities and increase pedestrian safety. Currently DOTPF staff are surveying and clearing the project limits, and the project is planned to be done by the fall of 2024. With support from the Fairbanks Cycle Club, this legislation proposes to name the MP 357-362 Bicycle/Pedestrian Path after the late Matt Glover who was an avid cyclist and member of the cycling community. Matt Glover participated in many local rides including the Nenana-Rama, the Chena Hot Springs Bicycle Classic, the Tour of Fairbanks, the Brown Leaf Classic series, the Tanana River Challenge, and the annual Women on Wheels "Butterfly Ride." He inspired many fellow cyclists by traveling to these organized cycling events by bike, participating in the rides, and then cycling back home. His fellow cyclists described him as kind and caring, with a witty sense of humor. He traveled through rain and snow, logging thousands of miles a year traveling between his home in North Pole and work in Fairbanks. Tragically in 2022, Matt Glover passed away after a vehicle collision while on his bike. We believe naming the MP 357-362 Bicycle/Pedestrian Path after Matt Glover will continue to inspire Interior cyclists and foster pedestrian safety on the new continuous pedestrian path between the city of North Pole and Fairbanks. 1:54:38 PM THERESA WOLDSTAD, Staff, Senator Robert Myers, Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for SB 129. Section 1: Legislative Intent Establishes that it is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities shall create and erect signage dedicating the bike path built in Fairbanks between Airport Way and Badger Road during a future project. Section 2: Dedication of bike path between Airport Way  and Badger Road Establishes that the bike path shall be named the Matt Glover Bike Path and the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities shall create and erect signage dedicating the bike path. CHAIR KAUFMAN remarked that the Fairbanks and North Pole communities support the renaming, and the future project will cost the state nothing. SENATOR MYERS confirmed that the department will absorb the cost the signage when it is installed next year. CHAIR KAUFMAN moved to invited testimony. 1:56:02 PM ERIC TROYER, Treasurer, Fairbanks Cycle Club, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in support of SB 129. He spoke about his community's sadness upon learning about Mr. Glover's death. He stated that Matt Glover impressed and inspired many people with his dedication to biking. He noted that Mr. Glover bike-commuted daily from his home in North Pole to work in Fairbanks. He remarked that weather rarely deterred his bike commute, which inspired many people. Matt organized many challenging bike rides beginning in Fairbanks. He described Matt Glover as kind, caring, quiet, and a good listener. 1:58:35 PM ARIANE GLOVER, representing self, North Pole, Alaska, spoke in favor of SB 129. She delivered the following prepared statement: My name is Ariane Glover, and I am from North Pole, the wife of Matt Glover, representing myself. When I think of bike paths in Alaska that are named after individuals, I think of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail or the Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail in Anchorage. Both are trails that I've ridden and riding these trails prompted me to find out more about the individuals to which I owed the pleasure of an afternoon ride, a safe path where I did not have to worry about distracted drivers or motorists encroaching on my lane. As you know, my husband wasn't a governor as Tony Knowles was and he wasn't appointed by a governor as a member to lead the trails and recreation board as Lanie Fleisher was. And while I think it is important to remember and honor those who have played a role in our history and how they have shaped our state and our communities, I also think it is important to remember those that are a part of our present too. To say my husband was an avid cyclist would be an understatement. For over 20 years he made the commute from North Pole to Fairbanks on his pink steel-framed road bike or his green steel-framed touring bike, respectively dubbed the Pink Panther and Dr. Frankenstein. By weeks end, his commute alone totaled over 100 miles and he would often add additional miles picking up our groceries, the mail, or running other errands in town, sometimes stopping to fill a growler of cider or stout to take home to enjoy after dinner at the start of his weekend. When I came to Alaska in 2013, I met Matt through the Fairbanks area hiking club. My first hike was his first as well and he was a noteworthy site in early May, in a Hawaiian shirt, shorts and his five-fingered shoes. For a Fourth of July picnic with the hiking club, the group took a bike ride down Farmer's Loop and up McGrath Road and Matt commented on my pink bike like his and kept pace with me as I huffed and puffed my way up the hills that I was unaccustomed to having just moved from Florida several months ago. Shortly after learning that we both lived in North Pole, he invited me for a bike tour of the town. We stopped at the Santa Claus House to see the reindeer and we ended up at his home for a delicious dish with salmon from Chitina, greens out of his garden and homemade ice cream with wild strawberries that were picked straight from his yard. He embodied things that are unique to Alaskans; hunting for moose, dip netting at Chitina and picking berries to make homemade jam. He was no stranger to thrift stores or the transfer site platform. He would marvel at a perfectly good set of wool bibs that he found, things that were trash to one and treasure to another. His first gift to me was from the transfer site, I didn't know it at the time, but that North Face windbreaker and orange Patagonia sweater, I still wear on late summer evenings and cool fall days. Matt rode because he loved it. There was no place my husband would have rather been than on two wheels whether rain, snow, or cold, even after fixing more flat tires from debris on the road than you could ever imagine he would simply fix his flat, debate the benefits of switching to tubeless tires, which he gave into last fall, and get back on the road. He never made excuses for himself. He was the kind of person who lived his life, by example, through his actions, without saying anything. He would never brag about how many miles he rode or tell people that they needed to ride more or that because he rode to work everyone else should ride to work too. He simply showed up on two wheels to work, to social events, to rides or hikes and he was a quiet reminder of what we all can do. Often the hardest part is just getting started, but once you are out there on your bike, no matter the weather or the temperature, when you are done, you are always glad you rode. He was an inspiration to others, not by his words or trying to convince them that they should ride their bikes more, but by simply showing up on his bike. Since his accident, I have heard countless stories from folks who said they would see him every morning on their commute to work and would smile to themselves or wave as they went by. Folks who said they could tell how early or late for work they were based on where he was on the road because, like clockwork, my husband would rise around 4:00 a.m. and build a fire to keep me warm, he would pack his lunch and then his bike and kiss me goodbye before he left. And then push off into the quiet morning to begin his day. Of course, I'd give anything in the world not to be here today, to discuss naming a new bike path in memory of my husband. The one thing I want is for him to come home, walk through our door, and have me complain that he needs to leave his stinky bike clothes in the garage. I know that isn't possible but naming this new connection from Badger Road to Airport Way, Steese Junction is. And so, I ask for your support in moving SB 129 forward. In his memory, let his name and his rides be an inspiration to others. Thank you. 2:04:58 PM CHAIR KAUFMAN appreciated getting to know Matt via Ms. Glover's sincere and compelling testimony. SENATOR TOBIN appreciated naming the bike path for a passionate and inspirational cyclist. She stated that the bill has her full support. She expressed her condolences to Ms. Glover. 2:05:46 PM CHAIR KAUFMAN asked about the timeline required to procure the signs. ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF), Juneau, Alaska, responded that the proposed path was slated for completion in the fall of 2024. He anticipated ample time to install the signage as part of the project in 2024. 2:07:34 PM At ease 2:08:13 PM CHAIR KAUFMAN reconvened the meeting. SENATOR MYERS appreciated the bill hearing. SENATOR TOBIN stressed the need for bike safety. CHAIR KAUFMAN held SB 129 in committee. 2:09:50 PM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Kaufman adjourned the Senate Transportation Standing Committee meeting at 2:09 p.m.