September 14, 2002
Saturday - 2:00 pm

Anchorage - Saying Alaska's transportation system is essential to keeping Alaskans connected physically, socially and economically, Frank Murkowski presented his policy today on improving Alaska's road, ferry, railroad, airport and utility links in the new century.

As the nation's largest state, where distance, climate and geography combine to keep residents isolated, Alaska should have the nation's best transportation system.... Frank Murkowski

"Alaska needs to do a much better job of connecting our communities," Murkowski told an audience of transportation professionals gathered in Anchorage. "I will make a plan for Alaska's transportation future a priority. We will focus on projects that create the most economic opportunities and the most advantageous connections for Alaskans."

As the nation's largest state, where distance, climate and geography combine to keep residents isolated, Alaska should have the nation's best transportation system, Murkowski said. Yet the last road was built in 1971, Alaska lacks a state road-building program, the Alaska Railroad stopped short of its intra-continental potential, and the marine highway system is foundering under high costs.

"Alaskans need a comprehensive vision for Alaska's transportation future," Murkowski said. "We haven't had one for years.

In his presentation, Murkowski laid out his program for improving the state's transportation system, addressing its most important components:

Roads:

Decrying the decades of deadlock in hew highway construction, Murkowski called for supplementing the federally funded highway system with a State Highway System, using state funds to build roads meeting state standards, to connect communities and villages.

Murkowski said he would prioritize road links that would provide direct benefits to Alaskans needing access for education, health and safety reasons, and would weigh heavily the ability of such links to open new resource development projects. He also spoke in favor of a highway link to Juneau, and to resource deposits statewide that could become feasibly with road access.

Railroad:

The Alaska Railroad has been an essential backbone to opening Alaska to settlement and development, and an expanded rail lines would help continue that success, Murkowski said. Connecting the existing 600-mile line to Ft. Greeley would provide synergy by easing the National Missile Defense system infrastructure.

Linking it to Canada would connect Alaska Railroad to the North American rail grid, open new areas to with potential for mineral, energy, timber, and tourism development, and provide a significant number of construction and operations jobs.

Natural gasline:

With its tremendous potential for new state revenue and high-paying jobs, natural gas, and the infrastructure necessary to bring it to market, will play a critical part in the state's transportation system, Murkowski said. That infrastructure will provide synergy for the entire transportation grid, as gasline prospects will spur railroads; railroads would ease delivery of resources to market; the rail right of way would be a corridor for power and data transmission lines; and the transportation corridor would be the backbone to build and strengthen communities, he said.

Ferries:

The state ferries are a critical transportation service for Southeast and coastal Alaska, and Murkowski said he supports enhancing and expanding the ferry system. He favored using as a model Southeast Alaska's Inter Island Ferry system, which provides a high level of service to Alaskans. He also expressed willingness to involve the Southeast Conference in ferry management, possibly following the model of the Alaska Railroad Corporation, managed by a board of directors.

Pioneer roads:

Saying that many Alaska communities could benefit from basic road connections between communities or with other transportation links, Murkowski called for the State Highway System to undertake a program of constructing pioneer roads. Such roads would be less expensive to build and maintain, but would provide Alaskans the opportunity to access airports, health care, and educational opportunities.

"Transportation provides hope for the future, and transportation opens Alaska for all the basic needs and desires of her people," Murkowski said. "Transportation provides access to our resources, access to health facilities, access to recreational areas -- and access to all the things that will help build a bright future for Alaska."

Source of News Release:

Frank Murkowski For Governor Campaign
Web Site

 

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