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Sponsor Statement for SB 123
Legislative Approval For Railroad Facilities

An Act relating to legislative approval for the design and construction of facilities of the Alaska Railroad Corporation.

Senate Bill 123 requires the Alaska Railroad Corporation to obtain legislative approval for their Program of Projects, a list of federally funded projects required by the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. The committee substitute for SB 123 represents a collaborative effort with the ARRC which will require approval for major construction projects which would impact our communities, while excluding regular maintenance projects, minor construction and realignment projects, and projects outside of communities that are entirely on federal land.

SB 123 will require the ARRC board of directors to present their Program of Projects to the legislature on the first day of each regular session. The Program of Projects will be referred to the House and Senate Finance committees for review. The legislature may disapprove by law the expenditure of federal funds for the construction of a project during the first 60 days of session. Failure of the legislature to disapprove by law is approval for the expenditure of the funds. This process is similar to that utilized by the Local Boundary Commission.

The bill was introduced in response to the Alaska Railroad Corporation's multimillion dollar rail station project at the Ted Stevens International Airport. The ARRC received direct federal appropriations for the project. There was no input or coordination with the Alaska State Legislature prior for this project. More importantly, there was no public review process in Alaska at any level before it was begun.

The rail station project will impact a large number of Anchorage residents. Many West Anchorage residents are opposed to the depot because the ARRC will need to realign and elevate the railroad tracks near their neighborhoods. They may be greatly impacted by the increase of train traffic and noise. There are also serious concerns about the feasibility and economic practicality of the project.

In response to the concerns with the Anchorage rail station project, requiring the ARRC to obtain legislative approval for future projects will better ensure that those Alaskan residents affected will be informed and have the opportunity for a review process in a timely manner.

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