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 502
Rustic Roads and Highways

An Act relating to the designation of and funding for rustic roads and highways; and providing for an effective date.

The Department of Transportation allocates funds for roads under different categories in their Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP): 1) National Highway System, 2) State Highway System, 3) Community Transportation Program, and, 4) Trails and Recreational Access for Alaska (TRAAK). Communities or individuals can nominate projects. The projects then undergo preliminary planning. Funds are then allocated under STIP to the various phases of each project: design, right-of-way acquisition, utilities, and construction.

Under the proposed DOT regulations, funding will be allocated to each category in a certain percentage:

• 48% National Highway System
• 8% Alaska (State) Highway System
• 33% Community Transportation Program
• 8% Trails and Recreational Access for Alaska (TRAAK)
        (The remaining 3% will be "flexible" funding.)

There is no proposal to earmark funds for new pioneer roads to serve economic development interests under the proposed DOT regulations. (AS 19.30.020 - .030 provide for the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to match grant 50% up to only $50,000 for constructing developmental access roads into areas where mining prospects of valid commercial promise are inaccessible to truck haulage. These roads are to be constructed as rudimentary truck roads and to standards that can be readily improved for general public use.)

HB 502 cites specific roads in the State Highway System that are proposed for upgrade and paving costing tens of millions. These existing roads have minimal traffic counts and some are just seasonal roads. Some of these roads have significant public opposition to paving. There are other roads listed under the State Highway System that are in dramatic need of improvement that have thousands of vehicles traveling daily. For example, there are no funds programmed in STIP (zero funds programmed even in the >6 years category) the Old Glenn Highway that has over 7,000 vehicles per day.

HB 502 will save millions by prohibiting paving these low use roads resulting in freed-up funds to improve high usage roads. It also allows for the State to plan and construct new "rustic roads and highways" that can serve the economic development interests of Alaskans and that will also provide recreational opportunities in areas that can not be currently accessed.

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