Post by ferryfast admin on Feb 18, 2006 0:37:53 GMT -5
We post this older article because it mentions the AMHS-Alaska Marine Highway System as being classified as a "Highway" and qualifies for Federal funds. The discussions are still ongoing, with mud being slung from both sides. We'll keep you posted! j^c^b
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Bridges are first order of business
HEARING: Many want money spent to solve more immediate problems.
By RICHARD RICHTMYER
Anchorage Daily News
www.adn.com/
Published: January 11, 2006
Last Modified: January 11, 2006 at 02:08 PM
JUNEAU -- A crowd jammed a meeting room in the Capitol Tuesday and at least 30 more people dialed in from across the state as lawmakers began the formal discussion about what to do with $454 million of federal money that had been designated for two controversial bridges but now may be used elsewhere.
The bridge money has attracted intense interest from critics, from bridge backers and from local officials, some of whom have told the state they would rather spend the money on local roads.
The House Transportation Committee made it one of the first orders of business in this year's legislative session.
"It's very interesting that they're kicking off the session with a hearing on this," said Emily Ferry of The Alaska Transportation Priorities Project, a group supported by the Alaska Conservation Foundation. She noted the budget typically comes up later in the session.
As part of a massive transportation spending bill, Congress last year initially had earmarked $223 million for the Ketchikan project and $231 million for the Knik Arm crossing. They are estimated to cost $315 million and $600 million.
The bridges became objects of national scorn as critics held them up as examples of government excess and symbols of pork-barrel politics, and Congress last fall struck the bridge earmarks, giving state lawmakers the final say over how the $454 million is to be spent.
Gov. Frank Murkowski proposes spending $93.6 million for the Knik Arm crossing and $91 million for the Gravina bridge in the fiscal year beginning July 1, which he said is the most allowed under rules states must follow for spending federal transportation dollars.
Bridge opponents, such as Ferry's group, have argued that building the bridges would delay badly needed local road projects throughout the state.
Jeff Ottesen, a top transportation planning official, told state legislators at Tuesday's hearing that if the bridges aren't built, they could spend up to $454 million only on projects that are part of the National Highway System.
That would include roads such as the Parks, Glenn, Seward and Richardson highways, as well as the state's ferry system, which also is designated a national highway, Ottesen said.
The mayors of Anchorage, Mat-Su and Kenai, in a joint letter to state Transportation Commissioner Michael Barton, complained that setting aside federal transportation dollars for the bridges and other large projects would delay needed road projects in Southcentral.
About a dozen people testified at Tuesday's hearing, most of them urging the lawmakers to strike the bridge funding and not to consider funding other controversial projects, such as a road out of Juneau.
"The proposed bridge to Gravina Island will not help Ketchikan and it's a waste of money," said 20-year-old Ketchikan resident Gary Van Abbott, who participated in Tuesday's hearing by teleconference.
Bob French, vice president of the Government Hill Community Council, said he flew to Juneau from Anchorage to participate in the hearing, during which speakers got three minutes each to say their piece.
French argued that the state shouldn't fund the Knik Arm crossing -- the approach to which might cut through the Government Hill neighborhood -- because it's not clear yet how the project will be paid for.
Officials from Palmer and Fairbanks also testified at Tuesday's hearing, urging the lawmakers to rein in the plans for mega-projects and divert the funding to needed maintenance and repairs.
Members of the House Finance Committee -- who have considerable influence over how the state's federal transportation dollars will be spent -- are having a meeting on the bridge issue at 1:30 p.m. today.
Reporter Richard Richtmyer can be reached at rrichtmyer@adn.com or in Juneau at 1-907-586-1531.
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Bridges are first order of business
HEARING: Many want money spent to solve more immediate problems.
By RICHARD RICHTMYER
Anchorage Daily News
www.adn.com/
Published: January 11, 2006
Last Modified: January 11, 2006 at 02:08 PM
JUNEAU -- A crowd jammed a meeting room in the Capitol Tuesday and at least 30 more people dialed in from across the state as lawmakers began the formal discussion about what to do with $454 million of federal money that had been designated for two controversial bridges but now may be used elsewhere.
The bridge money has attracted intense interest from critics, from bridge backers and from local officials, some of whom have told the state they would rather spend the money on local roads.
The House Transportation Committee made it one of the first orders of business in this year's legislative session.
"It's very interesting that they're kicking off the session with a hearing on this," said Emily Ferry of The Alaska Transportation Priorities Project, a group supported by the Alaska Conservation Foundation. She noted the budget typically comes up later in the session.
As part of a massive transportation spending bill, Congress last year initially had earmarked $223 million for the Ketchikan project and $231 million for the Knik Arm crossing. They are estimated to cost $315 million and $600 million.
The bridges became objects of national scorn as critics held them up as examples of government excess and symbols of pork-barrel politics, and Congress last fall struck the bridge earmarks, giving state lawmakers the final say over how the $454 million is to be spent.
Gov. Frank Murkowski proposes spending $93.6 million for the Knik Arm crossing and $91 million for the Gravina bridge in the fiscal year beginning July 1, which he said is the most allowed under rules states must follow for spending federal transportation dollars.
Bridge opponents, such as Ferry's group, have argued that building the bridges would delay badly needed local road projects throughout the state.
Jeff Ottesen, a top transportation planning official, told state legislators at Tuesday's hearing that if the bridges aren't built, they could spend up to $454 million only on projects that are part of the National Highway System.
That would include roads such as the Parks, Glenn, Seward and Richardson highways, as well as the state's ferry system, which also is designated a national highway, Ottesen said.
The mayors of Anchorage, Mat-Su and Kenai, in a joint letter to state Transportation Commissioner Michael Barton, complained that setting aside federal transportation dollars for the bridges and other large projects would delay needed road projects in Southcentral.
About a dozen people testified at Tuesday's hearing, most of them urging the lawmakers to strike the bridge funding and not to consider funding other controversial projects, such as a road out of Juneau.
"The proposed bridge to Gravina Island will not help Ketchikan and it's a waste of money," said 20-year-old Ketchikan resident Gary Van Abbott, who participated in Tuesday's hearing by teleconference.
Bob French, vice president of the Government Hill Community Council, said he flew to Juneau from Anchorage to participate in the hearing, during which speakers got three minutes each to say their piece.
French argued that the state shouldn't fund the Knik Arm crossing -- the approach to which might cut through the Government Hill neighborhood -- because it's not clear yet how the project will be paid for.
Officials from Palmer and Fairbanks also testified at Tuesday's hearing, urging the lawmakers to rein in the plans for mega-projects and divert the funding to needed maintenance and repairs.
Members of the House Finance Committee -- who have considerable influence over how the state's federal transportation dollars will be spent -- are having a meeting on the bridge issue at 1:30 p.m. today.
Reporter Richard Richtmyer can be reached at rrichtmyer@adn.com or in Juneau at 1-907-586-1531.