News article: Transportation Department snubs survey results
Southeast Alaskans oppose proposed road by slim margin
By Shawna Murray
Residents of Southeast Alaska communities are concerned that their interests are not being met and that their voices are not being heard by those pushing the project to build a road from Juneau to Skagway.
The Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) has reported that 80% of the residents of Juneau, Haines, and Skagway considered improved access a priority. What they didn’t mention was that their own survey actually indicated that a majority of respondents opposed building a new road to improve access. They preferred improved ferry service instead.
According to the survey, published by the D.O.T. in a presentation on the Juneau Access Project, a significant majority of Haines and Skagway residents opposed building a new road. A slight majority of Juneau residents (52%) supported the project. The poll, completed in August, 2003 by a private agency, the McDowell Group, surveyed 719 households by telephone.
During a recent discussion on the public radio program Talk of Alaska, a radio caller expressed concerns about the reliability of road access. “In the winter, the Environmental Impact Study states 34 ½ days of the year, the road will be closed. What happens in the case of medical emergencies?” Emily Ferry, Coordinator of the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project, said “the road will be extraordinarily dangerous,” sighting sixty-eight avalanche passes it would go through. Dick Knapp, former Commissioner of D.O.T., disagreed. He compared the proposed new road with the Seward Highway from Anchorage to Girdwood to Juneau, saying, “The road is not closed that often.”
Questions remain about the accessibility and convenience of the road route to the State capitol. Even with road access, the driving distance from Anchorage to Haines is 770 miles. At an average speed of 55 miles per hour, it takes 14 hours just to get to Haines by car. Then, according to the Preferred Alternative road, the car would be shuttled by ferry, and would then have to drive an additional 68 ½ miles to reach Juneau.
JUNEAU ROAD FACTS
A $284 billion Highway and Transit Funding Bill was approved on March 2nd, 2005. Governor Frank Murkowski wishes to use a portion of these funds to build a road to Juneau, which would require an estimated $281 million.
The Department of Transportation has suggested ten alternatives to improve the service of transportation in the Lynn Canal to and from Juneau. Their preferred alternative is a 68 ½ mile, two lane highway along the East side of Lynn Canal to Skagway. A ferry terminal would be built North of the Katzehin River Delta, and the marine vessel Aurora would be used for shuttle service between Katzehin and Haines.
Currently, there is no road access from any city to Juneau, the home of our state capital. In order to gain access to Juneau, one must fly there or take the ferry.