CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

McLay

RESOLUTION 06-08

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA URGING THE STATE TO PRIORITIZE INVESTMENT IN THE STATE'S EXISTING TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

WHEREAS, It is the mission of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT/PF) to "provide for the movement of people and goods and the delivery of State services,"; and

WHEREAS, The vast distances, thousand of islands, active glaciers, towering mountains, frozen tundra, and other unique features that make Alaska grand also result in unique transportation challenges that cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all solut6ion; and

WHEREAS, The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) has provided service for over forty years to thousands of Alaska residents in 30 communities, stretching from the Aleutians through Kodiak, the Kenai Peninsula, and Prince William Sound to Southeast Alaska; and

WHEREAS, The 3,500-mile route of the AMHS has been recognized for its cultural, historical, recreational and scenic qualities through designation as an All-American Road by the United States Department of Transportation; and

WHEREAS, Regulatory deadlines will prevent three of the Marine Highway's most capable vessels from serving Canadian ports afer January 1, 2010; and

WHEREAS, A $46 million replacement for the M/V LeConte to serve Angoon, Hoonah, Juneau, Kake, Pelican, Petersburg, Sitka, Tenakee and possibly Gustavus, a $61,2 million "Southern Gateway Shuttle" to connect Southeast Alaska with the continental road system at Prince Rupert, BC, and a $123 million mainline ferry to replace aging vessels were all included in the Alaska Department of Transportation's FY 2004---2006 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), Amendment #8, finalized in January 2005; and

WHEREAS, The M/V LeConte replacement, the "Southern Gateway Shuttle", and the mainline replacement ferry were all eliminated from the Draft FY 2006--2008 STIP; and

WHEREAS, The Draft FY 2006--2008 STIP calls for spending $178 million on the proposed Juneau Road, $299 million on the Gravina Bridge, and $600 million on the Knik Arm Bridge over the next two years; and









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Resolution 06-08

City of Homer

WHEREAS, Many road and ferry rehabilitation and safety improvements budgeted in the FY 2004--2006 STIP, Amendment #8, have been cancelled while other long-awaited improvements have been delayed in order to find the proposed Juneau Road, Gravina Bridge, and Knik Arm Bridge; and

WHEREAS, The proposed Gravina and Knik Arm Bridges have been two of the most widely criticized capital projects in recent history; and

WHEREAS, Continuing with plans to construct the two bridges will reinforce the image of Alaska as wasteful, spoiled, and overindulgent, reducing our ability to acquire federal funds for any of the State's needs in the future; and

WHEREAS, The proposed Juneau road has been resolutely opposed by the cities of Haines, and Skagway, and the residents of Juneau voted for improved ferry service in a referendum; and

WHEREAS, The ADOT/PF found that the cost of operating and maintaining a road-shuttle ferry system in the Lynn Canal is 45% more expensive than operating and maintaining the existing, community-to-community ferry system along the same route over a 30-year time period; and

WHEREAS, The capital investment required to maintain connectivity among thirty Alaskan communities with quality ferry service is comparable to the cost of constructing new roads, which would service only a few communities.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer City Council urges the State to prioritize investment in Alaska's existing Transportation System and to:

1. Tailor transportation solutions to fit the unique challenges faced by Alaskan communities while ensuring that modes of travel between communities are safe, reliable and efficient.

2. Address the outstanding needs of Alaska's existing road and ferry system to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient movement of goods and service now and in the future before expending money on costly and controversial mega-projects.

3. Reinstate funding fo the M/V LeConte replacement, the "Southern Gateway Shuttle", and the mainline replacement ferry in the Final FY 2006--2008 STIP.

4. Restore service by the M/V Fairweather in the Lynn Canal and by the M/V Chenga in Prince William Sound.

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Resolution 06-08

City of Homer

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council that this Resolution shall be sent to ADOT/PF Commission and AMHS Director, Alaska's US Congressional Delegation, Governor Murkowski, Senator Gary Stevens, Representative Paul Seaton, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Williams, Alaska Municipal League and to Better Ferries for Alaska, Bob Doll Executive Director.

PASSED AND APPROVED by the Homer City Council this 9th day of January, 2006.

CITY OF HOMER











JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

ATTEST:











________________________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK



Fiscal Note: NA