The Alaska Transportation Priorities Project, or ATPP, works with conservation organizations, transit advocates, community and governmental leaders, neighborhood organizations, engineers, and others to promote sensible transportation systems and policies in Alaska. ATPP believes that the state should first focus funding and planning efforts on maintaining and improving existing infrastructure to benefit Alaskans before investing significant sums in costly, low-priority transportation projects.

ATPP was formed during Governor Murkowski's Administration when community leaders connected with conservation organizations, labor unions, land owners, residents, engineers, cargo shippers, tribes, and travelers in order to redirect state spending towards Alaska's actual transportation priorities. Groups with different missions realized they shared the same concerns. Some allies opposed the proposed mega-projects. Others recognized that the mega-projects were not likely to be built in the near future and/or would not provide long-term jobs or improved transportation. Still others felt the mega-projects were simply unnecessary in light of more pressing needs. Whatever the reason, ATPP hopes you will join us in calling for improved prioritization of Alaska's transportation needs. To provide the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project with information on important statewide transportation needs, click here.

ATPP is a member of the following coalitions:

About the Director:

Lois N. Epstein, P.E. has directed the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project since January 2007 following her previous work promoting alternatives to the proposed Knik Arm Bridge near Anchorage. Before ATPP, Lois worked for Cook Inletkeeper in Anchorage for over five years, a non-profit watershed protection organization, and Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, DC for over thirteen years. Prior to these positions, Lois worked for two private consulting firms and the U.S. EPA Region 9 Office of Water. At ATPP, Lois promotes sensible transportation systems and policies in Alaska including stopping expensive and low-priority transportation projects; eliminating public subsidies for roads to mines and oil and gas fields; increasing public transportation, walking, and biking opportunities; and making existing roads safer, better for cargo passage, and less problematic for fish and wildlife passage.

In her previous work watch-dogging oil and gas issues in Alaska and nationally, Lois presented invited testimony before the U.S. Congress on over ten occasions and has appeared on CNN, CBS Evening News, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and other media outlets. Lois is a licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Alaska and Maryland. She has a masters degree from Stanford University in Civil Engineering with a specialization in environmental engineering and science, and undergraduate degrees from both Amherst College (in English) and MIT (in mechanical engineering).

ATPP Advisory Committee Members:

Tim Bristol – Juneau-based state director for Trout Unlimited.

Emily Ferry – Juneau-based “sensible transportation” advocate and former Coordinator for Alaska Transportation Priorities Project.

Alli Harvey – Anchorage-based Sustainable Communities Coordinator for Alaska Center for the Environment.

David Levy – Anchorage-based head of the Alaska Mobility Coalition, an organization that represents public, private and community transit providers in Alaska.

Walt Parker – Anchorage-based planner and former head of the state Division of Highways (now part of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities).

Cheryl Richardson – Anchorage-based consultant and staff for the Anchorage Citizens Coalition.

Jan Wrentmore – Skagway-based entrepreneur and owner of the Red Onion Saloon.