 August 31, 2009
One particular project in the draft STIP will reconstruct the North Tongass highway in Ketchikan for approximately two miles to provide a paved width of 36 feet from the first junction with D-1 Loop Road (Lighthouse Grocery area) to Whipple Creek Bridge. The current pavement rating on this section of the North Tongass Highway D1 to Whipple Creek is "poor". This roadway work will exclude the 0.2 mile section from the second junction with D-1 Loop (Mud Bight area) to Lighthouse Grocery which will be addressed in a later project. Another project proposed for funding in the STIP is the Alaska Class Ferry. This project will design and construct an efficient and environmentally responsible vessel to meet the future needs of the Alaska Marine Highway System. The STIP is a four-year highway spending plan describing how Alaska will use federal funds to implement the state's long range transportation plan. The release of the draft STIP initiates the public participation process necessary prior to the release of federal funds to the state. The proposed STIP is based on estimates of federal funding that may be available to DOT&PF. Congress has not completed the transportation authorization legislation that would provide actual funding amounts. "We prepared the STIP knowing Congress might substantially change how and for what federal funds can be used for," said Jeff Ottesen, DOT&PF's director of program development. "The projects in the STIP are based on a realistic assessment of federal funds expected to be available to support Alaska's growing transportation needs. While we would like to know the exact amount of federal funds available to us, a 2010-2013 STIP must be in place this fall in order for the state to receive any federal transportation funds." The public comment period ends Oct. 2.
Comments:
On the Web:
Source of News:
Publish A Letter in SitNews Read Letters/Opinions
|