Public Input Sought for Alaska’s Long-term Interior Transportation Plan
The Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) is inviting public feedback on its long-term Interior Alaska Transportation Plan, integral to the state’s 2036 Long Range Transportation Plan. This plan, along with those from five other regions, will direct statewide transportation decisions. It focuses on enhancing community connectivity in the Interior while employing economic modeling and transportation system analysis to identify essential needs and issues.
According to Sara Lucey, planning manager for DOT’s Northern Region, the last iteration of the Interior transportation plan was published in 2010. The updated draft was presented to the Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation Planning Technical Committee on Wednesday. Lucey emphasized that the DOT revised the plan three times based on feedback from local partners and stakeholders.
The plan outlines several goals, including improving economic vitality, health, safety, and security; enhancing access and mobility for people and freight; and preserving existing transportation systems. It primarily focuses on roads, airports, and water-based travel across five subregions: Yukon Flats, Middle Yukon/Fairbanks, Denali, Upper Tanana, and Copper River, with the Fairbanks metropolitan area excluded as it is covered by another long-range plan.
Key areas of concern include the need for roadside amenities and local community collaboration to bolster safety. It also emphasizes expanding non-motorized infrastructure and maintaining current roads and airports. Additional highlights include addressing waterway-related challenges and emerging transportation trends, such as unmanned aircraft and electric vehicles.
Capital investment proposals for the Middle Yukon/Fairbanks subregion include significant rehabilitations of local roads and airports, while the Upper Tanana subregion emphasizes replacing aging truss bridges on the Alaska Highway.
Public input is crucial for shaping these developments and fostering sustainable growth in Interior Alaska.
Source
Photo credit www.newsminer.com
