(JUNEAU, Alaska) – Today, through Admin Order 313, Governor Mike Dunleavy established the Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Work Group. The purpose of this group is to make recommendations regarding future finance and service levels for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS).

“Using the resources of the Reshaping Study, the public, the three Advisory Boards, and their own personal knowledge and experience, I believe the recommendations of this Work Group will produce a balanced perspective for the future of the AMHS,” said John MacKinnon, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities.

The Work Group will consist of eight members and a chair, appointed by the governor, who will serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for travel and meeting expenses. Recommendations from the Work Group will be completed by Sept. 30, 2020, with the goal to begin implementation in FY 2023.

The Work Group members will be:

• Chair or designee from the Marine Transportation Advisory Board
• Chair or designee from the Aviation Advisory Board
• Chair or designee from the Roads & Highways Advisory Board
• One representative from one of the three marine unions
• Two members of the Legislature – to be named by Senate President and Speaker of the House
• Three members from the general public representing areas of broad statewide public interest

The governor expects to announce the members of the Work Group by mid-February and is asking for resumes from Alaskans interested in serving in one of the three public seats. To apply visit www.boards.alaska.gov/apply.

The Work Group will define the purpose and need of the AMHS with the goal to reduce the state’s financial obligations to a sustainable level.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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