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