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Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

NORTHERN REGION
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ADOT&PF Community Engagement Meetings

July 5 Update

In December, the governor’s proposed budget recommended six maintenance camps for closure or reduced operations. Some of these camps were added back into the budget during the legislative session. Last week, Gov. Bill Walker signed the budget and vetoed funding for two camps.

Here is the status of the six camps as of June 30, 2016:

  • Northway Maintenance Station will remain open.
  • O’Brien Creek Maintenance Station, on the Taylor Highway, will close.
  • Chitina Maintenance Station will close.
  • Birch Lake Maintenance Station will close.
  • Central Maintenance Station will close.
  • Thompson Pass Maintenance Station will become a seasonal station, open in the winter only.

All roads will remain open, but there will be an increase in response time to maintenance activities. Maintenance of the roads in the areas of the closed station will become the responsibility of nearby stations. For example: When the Birch Lake station closes, the Delta and Fairbanks stations will split the miles previously maintained by the Birch Lake station.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) will continue to do the best job possible with the resources provided to keep Alaska’s infrastructure safe. Routine maintenance activities performed by DOT&PF are funded by the Unrestricted General Fund budget, not by federal funds; reductions to the state budget impact these services. The department is trying to spread these impacts across the state so we are able to keep roads open and maintain a high level of services.

It’s important to note that over the past two years, DOT&PF’s General Fund budget has been reduced by $60 million. The department did its best to minimize the impacts to direct services by reducing staff, equipment and commodities throughout the state. Significant budget reductions in fiscal year 2017 and beyond will continue to impact the services that DOT&PF provides.

In January 2016, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Northern Region, invited Alaskans to participate in seven community engagement meetings scheduled across Interior Alaska. The goal of the public meetings was to lead a constructive dialogue around the fiscal challenges facing the department and discuss impacts of proposed cuts.

These meetings were an opportunity for Alaskans to hear from department officials, ask questions and present potential solutions regarding short and long-term operating possibilities for the department. Meetings were held in Northway, Tok, Kenny Lake, Valdez, Salcha, Central, and Fairbanks.

Original Post

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Northern Region, is inviting Alaskans to participate in seven community engagement meetings scheduled across Interior Alaska. The goal of the public meetings is to lead aconstructive dialogue around the fiscal challenges facing the department and discuss impacts of proposed cuts.

All state agencies are working with reduced operating budgets due to low oil prices. This will impact all modes of transportation, including highway maintenance. Though it is early in the budget process, six maintenance camps are recommended for closure or reduced operations. The camps that would close are: Northway Maintenance Station, O’Brien Creek Maintenance Station, Chitina Maintenance Station, Birch Lake Maintenance Station and Central Maintenance Station. The Thompson Pass Maintenance Station would become a seasonal camp, only operating during winter months.

These meetings were an opportunity for Alaskans to hear from department officials, ask questions and present potential solutions regarding short and long-term operating possibilities for the department.

Meetings were held in January 2016 in Northway, Tok, Kenny Lake, Valdez, Salcha, Central, and Fairbanks.

Meeting Attendees & Comments: