Unhappy with AMATS’ Decision, KABATA Lawyers Force Increased Process Steps;

Intervenor Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority Holds Out for More than Plaintiffs

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Lois Epstein, 907.748.0448

Anchorage, AK - The Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA), which intervened in the public process lawsuit brought against Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS), today forced the settlement to include process provisions much more onerous than those requested by the plaintiffs, the cities of Wasilla and Houston, and agreed to by the defendants. Ironically, KABATA was represented in court by a state Department of Law attorney while defendant AMATS, a state-local committee with decision-making authority over Anchorage transportation expenditures, also was represented by a Department of Law attorney. The settlement - which likely will be signed by all involved tomorrow - includes no admission of fault by AMATS.

On June 25, AMATS voted unanimously to move the Knik Arm Bridge from a short-term to a long-term project in the city's Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), thus preventing bridge construction before 2018. This decision was supported by a unanimous vote of the Anchorage Assembly on June 24 and a unanimous vote of the AMATS Technical Advisory Committee on June 18. In another advisory vote, the Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on June 15 to remove the bridge from the Anchorage LRTP.

"Facts are facts, and all key decision-makers supported AMATS' moving the bridge to a long-term project. Additional public process will not change that, however KABATA continues to utilize private and state lawyers to justify its ongoing - and increasing - spending of millions of dollars each year. Governor Parnell needs to stand up for state DOT's decision on AMATS and put a stop to using state legal resources on both sides of a court battle," said Lois Epstein, an engineer and director of the non-profit Alaska Transportation Priorities Project.

KABATA currently is holding over $60 million in funds that cannot now be used for other transportation projects in Anchorage or statewide. In its 2011 and 2015 updates of the LRTP, AMATS can decide whether to remove the bridge from the LRTP, change it back to a short-term project, or stick with 2018 or later for construction.