(JUNEAU, Alaska) – The Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Work Group will hold its first meeting tomorrow, Feb. 27, 2020, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. The first meeting will be purely administrative, with the goal of getting the group organized for the future. Agenda items include introductions, scheduling of future meetings and setting the next meeting date.

Alaskans and other interested parties can call into the meeting by dialing 1-650-479-3207, access code 803 315 083 and password 54779793#.

During this meeting there will not be a public comment period, but there will be opportunities for public participation in the future.

On Jan. 17, 2020, through Admin Order 313, Gov. Mike Dunleavy established the Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Work Group. The work group is tasked with providing recommendations on the future finances and service levels of the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) to the governor, using data from the AMHS Reshaping Study. The Work Group consists of nine members and a chair, appointed by the governor, who serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for travel and meeting expenses.

The Work Group members are:

     Public: Tom Barrett (Chair)
     Public: John Torgerson
     Public: Wanetta Ayers
     Aviation: Lee Ryan
     Labor: Ben Goldrich
     MTAB: Robert Venables
     Roads & Highways: Tony Johansen
     Senator Bert Stedman
     Representative Louise Stutes

Admiral Tom Barrett, United States Coast Guard (Ret.) will serve as the Work Group’s chairperson. Mr. Barrett most recently retired as president of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, and also served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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. Recommendations from the Work Group will be completed by Sept. 30, 2020, with the goal to begin implementation in FY 2023.

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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