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Juneau Road/Ferry Mega-Project road route view, showing numerous snow avalanche chutes and potential rockfall locations (January 2007).

The Alaska Transportation Priorities Project (ATPP) promotes a "fix it first" approach. Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities estimates that the cost for existing Alaska highway and bridge maintenance and preservation is approximately $500 million each year, with more maintenance money required for the state ferry system. With approximately $600 million in annual, non-aviation transportation revenues, there is little room in the state budget for transportation mega-projects with high, unknown costs and questionable need.

On September 21, 2007, former Governor Sarah Palin cancelled planning for the Gravina Bridge to Ketchikan, thus breaking with the "mega-project" transportation priorities of former Governor Murkowski's administration which resulted in relentless advocacy for the Knik Arm Bridge, the Juneau Road/Ferry project, and the Gravina Bridge despite the projects' enormously high costs and questionable need. The two remaining mega-projects' estimated costs – $1.5 billion for the Knik Arm Bridge and $0.5 billion for the Juneau Road/Ferry project – undoubtedly will rise because of construction difficulties in Alaska's rugged onshore and offshore environments, material and labor cost increases, design changes needed to meet endangered species requirements, and currently-unknown construction difficulties. Unless Governor Sean Parnell decides otherwise, the two remaining mega-projects will be responsible for taking money away from many critical, statewide transportation and non-transportation needs including combating congestion in and around Anchorage, fixing bridges and potholes statewide, increasing safety, and replacing culverts to allow fish passage.

Governor Parnell also proposed in his fiscal year 2011 budget to spend $2 million studying a Road to Nome, estimated to cost $2.3-$2.7 billion, and to spend $8 million studying a Road to Umiat from the Dalton Highway likely to cost approximately $400 million. ATPP opposes these expenditures because the state currently does not know how it will pay for these expensive projects, and the state should not start large transportation projects it cannot finish. As stated in a November 2009 letter to the state from the federal government available here:

"...[T]he Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration are concerned that the State will be over programmed in the long term and that sufficient funds are not available from current recognizable sources to complete a number of large projects contemplated by the State's program."

ATPP and other organizations interested in sensible transportation systems and policies in Alaska support ten Principles Which Should Guide Alaska Transportation Decision-Making. (PDF 75k)

Download: Fix failing bridges and roads before building new ones Anchorage Daily News, 8/25/07 (PDF 46k)

Terminus of the proposed Knik Arm “Bridge to Nowhere” (September 2006)

Publications

The Knik Arm “Bridge to Nowhere”: A High-Risk Investment Choice

March 2, 2007: A Report Developed by the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project

Endorsed by: Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Conservation Alliance, Alaska Public Interest Research Group, Cook Inletkeeper, Government Hill Community Council

Abstract: The proposed Knik Arm Bridge project poses a serious risk for private investors, with large uncertainties in project costs, funding, permitting, and liability. This report documents those uncertainties.

Download: The Knik Arm “Bridge to Nowhere”: A High-Risk Investment Choice (PDF 400k)

Analysis of the Lynn Canal Highway Phase I, Zone 4 Geotechnical Investigation Undertaken by Golder Associates

Downloads:

ATPP Press Release: February 8, 2007 (MSWord Doc)

ATTP Report Analysis ( MS Word Doc)

The entire report is available as a VERY LARGE ( over 200 MB ) download on the AK DOT web site: Here. There is also an option for a smaller download of selected portions of the report at that link.

Anchorage bicyclists in crosswalk mix with vehicles turning right on red.

Presentations

Presentation on the Need for an
Anchorage / Mat-Su Regional Transit Authority

Presentation by Randy Virgin, former Director of Sustainability for Anchorage, with updates by ATPP Director Lois N. Epstein, P.E. from March and December 2009.

Download the presentation: MS PowerPoint, 984k

Presentation on the AK Statewide Long Range Transportation Policy Plan Update

Presentation by ATPP Director Lois N. Epstein, P.E. on the Alaska Statewide Long Range Transportation Policy Plan Update known as 2030 Let’s Get Moving! before the Transportation Stakeholders Group on July 18, 2007.

Download the presentation: MS PowerPoint, 224k

Comments on the draft 2030 Plan, submitted to Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on January 10, 2008

ATPP Director Lois Epstein on Hometown, Alaska Discussing Making Public Involvement Work (January 27, 2010)

ATPP Director Lois Epstein on Talk of Alaska Discussing Alaska’s Long Range Transportation Plan (January 15, 2008)

To provide the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project with information on important statewide transportation needs, click here.

"Folks in Anchorage were very upset and shocked… to hear that the bridges counted against our ability to address other, more pressing transportation needs in Southcentral and the Interior.”
 
– Senator Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, Anchorage Daily News “Bridge funds eyed for other aims,” Nov. 18, 2005.