(Juneau) - The House and Senate Transportation Committees and the House Finance Subcommittee on Public Safety will hold a joint meeting at the Wasilla LIO on Saturday, February 25th at 1:30 pm.

Sen. Charlie Huggins (R - Rural Mat-Su/Chugiak) chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, Rep. Carl Gatto (R - Palmer) chairs the House Transportation Committee and Rep. Bill Stoltze (R - Chugiak) chairs the House Finance Subcommittee on Public Safety.

Topping the agenda will be a discussion of safety concerns regarding highways in the Mat-Su Valley. A section of the Parks Highway between Wasilla and Big Lake, the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and the Knik-Goose Bay Road have seen a spike in the number of injury accidents and DWI arrests.

A bill before both transportation committees (SB 261) permits the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to designate a section of highway as a highway traffic safety corridor.

The designation means additional Alaska State Troopers will patrol the safety corridor. Signs will be posted at each end to tell drivers when they are in a safety corridor. Drivers who ignore the warning face double fines for moving violations like speeding or reckless driving.

State officials from the Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation, local police and the Mat-SU EMS Director will all testify before the committees about SB 261 and other ideas about how to make the highways safer.

A new Alaska State Trooper facility at the corner of the Parks Highway and Pittman Road was a priority for the Mat-Su delegation and it's already helping to reduce the number of accidents and speeding violations in that area.

The final 15 minutes of the meeting will feature an update on the proposed Knik Arm Crossing from the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority.

# # #