Session: State Capitol, Room 24 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2186 Fax: (907) 465-3818 Interim: 600 East Railroad Avenue Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone: (907) 373-1842 Fax: (907) 373-4729

Sponsor Statement for HB 500
Advance Acquisition of Real Property

An Act relating to the advance acquisition of real property for public purposes.

Infrastructure development is key to economic development throughout Alaska. Right-of-way corridors are required to access resources and markets, enhance intrastate commerce, and improve Alaskan's quality of life. Inter-modal access to existing and future harbors and airports will also play a key role in determining many of the corridors.

Economical transportation and utilities are vital to developing Alaska's raw resources and value-added products. Lowering the cost of developing these corridors will allow Alaska's resources to compete in national and international markets.

Many times proposed resource extraction projects are hindered due to lack of established rights-of-way to access the sites or to move the resources to markets.

In urbanized areas, the public process to identify new rights-of-way (transportation and utility corridors) for past-due projects can extend over long periods. This results in bitter battles, pitting neighbor against neighbor, ending up with many dislocated property owners. Sky rocketing right-of-way costs and more expensive construction costs result in project delays and fewer projects statewide.

Passage of this bill will result in the direct benefits of approved corridors and pre-acquired rights-of-way are:

• Decreased rights-of-way acquisition costs;
• Accelerated permitting of future transportation and utility projects resulting in shorter timeframes to construct roads and utilities at a lower cost;
• Safeguards for property owners; and,
• Resource extraction and value-added industries will know that their projects can move forward during a shorter timeframe allowing them to capture emerging timber, mineral, and energy markets when market conditions are ripe.

# # #

Attachments:

• Bill History for HB 500
  
• Print Friendly Version
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 1 page(s) - 12K