Oversight Hearing on DOT's Preliminary Southeast Area Transportation Plan
March 30, 2012
The 2012 SATP outlined several alternative directions the region's transportation system could take in coming years. Baseline Alternative 1 – Maintain the Existing System Of the proposed Alternatives, "Alternative 5", recommends discontinuing all long distance ferries and replacing them with new roads, new ferry terminals, and corresponding shuttle ferries. Alternative 5 in the SATP recommends discontinuing the Bellingham run, the Cross Gulf run to Prince William Sound, the Lynn Canal run (the three most profitable runs to the Alaska Marine Highway System), and numerous other runs in the region. It also proposes the construction of numerous new roads, including a road across Kupreanof Island, another across Baranof Island, and of course, a road up the east side of Lynn Canal. Each of these new roads would require new ferry terminals and corresponding shuttle ferries. DOT has suggested that this new network of roads and shuttle ferries will not only save the state money, but also be more convenient for travelers. All the preliminary transportation alternatives and comparision of the alternatives are available to the public online and can be downloaded. The Senate Transportation Committee is not accepting public testimony in the April 3rd hearing, but interest individuals can still contact the committee to communicate their vision for transportation in Southeast Alaska. A series of public meetings were previously held throughout Southeast Alaska to present the Scoping Report and to solicit comments. Highlights of the presentations and discussions for each meeting are available online. Written comments received via e-mail, mail, fax, or in-person are also posted online. ADOT&PF staff are currently preparing a draft Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan and expect to release it in 2012.
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Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews
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