DOT&PF releases STIP draft amendment 17 for public comment

(JUNEAU, Alaska) — The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) released its draft amendment number 17 to the 2006-2009 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Monday.

The amendment is designed to parallel changes in the federal funds allocation process. The funding process now focuses on specific types of projects resulting in additional bridge and safety funds and less general highway funds, a major change to the former flexible funding style.

“Even though we’re near the midpoint of the fiscal year, the Federal Highway Administration advised us that there would be a reduction of the 2008 funds by $15 million,” said Jeff Ottesen, DOT&PF’s Director of Program Development. “We took this latest funding reduction in mind when we created the draft STIP, so it’s important to note that the draft need not be changed to account for the lower total level of funding.”

The amendment 17 STIP provisions include increased funding for the Anchorage and Fairbanks Metropolitan Area Transportation Systems’ priority projects. It also includes funding to replace three bridges on the Alaska Highway, and in Hyder and Gustavus. One such bridge is potentially relevant to Alaska’s Gasline Inducement Act. The other bridges link coastal communities to waterborne transportation services.

Some general highway and community road projects were delayed because of insufficient flexible funding. Those projects included culvert replacement on the Dalton Highway, and work to the Chignik area Inter-Village Road and the Naknek River Bridge in the Bristol Bay Borough.

“The entire STIP process is very complicated and it’s undergoing rapid changes that have effects on a broad range of projects,” said Leo von Scheben, Commissioner, DOT&PF.

The STIP amendment is available online electronically in a searchable format at: www.dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/cip_stip/stip06_09.shtml. It can also be searched by election districts.

The public comment period ends April 14. Comments to the STIP can be sent to DOT&PF by electronic mail via dot.stip@alaska.gov or to P.O. Box 112500, Juneau, AK, 99811-2500.

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