Important partnership:Legislators & Assembly

>MAT-SU— Assembly Members for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough met with state lawmakers today, Dec. 20, to highlight priority projects for the Borough for 2011. The two-hour meeting was productive and one of teamwork. Sen. Charlie Huggins remarked upon the partnership between Legislators and the Assembly. “This is an important partnership with you as we work for the betterment of our community.”Borough

Deputy Mayor Ron Arvin began the meeting by thanking the delegation for their support on Borough projects.

Thirteen capital projects are on the Borough’s priority list.

(See attached Borough Priorities 2011 booklet for project specifics here.)

• Port MacKenzie Rail Extension

• Bogard Road Extension

• Substandard roads & bridges

• Hatcher Pass Nordic Ski Area

• South Denali Visitor Center

• Lucille Street & Seldon Road Improvements

• Palmer Hay Flats Natural Science Education & Community

Center

• MAT-SU South Gateway Visitor Center

• Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

• Community Impact Assessment: Big Lake

• Port MacKenzie Ferry Landing

For the Borough’s number one priority—Port MacKenzie Rail— Gov. Sean Parnell recently included $20 million in his capital budget. Assembly Members are pleased to see the Governor stand behind this statewide infrastructure project. The Institute of Social & Economic Research has estimated that new mines stimulated by the rail extension could result in up to $300 million per year to the State in taxes, license fees, and royalties.

Last legislative session, the MAT-SU delegation worked hard to secure state funding for the rail project at $35 million, with Rep. Bill Stoltze playing a key role. Today Stoltze said economic development through the Port and Rail are his top priorities. “Building the economy in the Valley has got to be a top priority,” Stoltze said. He also stressed the importance of roads.

Rep. Mark Neuman said he wants jobs from resource extraction to remain here with the rail development.

Up to 4,000 jobs will be created along the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension due to new mining and development. Up to 3,500 jobs will be created at Port MacKenzie and Southcentral over the long term, according to ISER.

Rep. Wes Keller commended the Borough Assembly and staff on a job well done for the Port MacKenzie Rail project.

Rep. Stoltze singled out Acting Borough Manager Elizabeth Gray for her professionalism and “steady hand” at the helm during a time of great transition. The Borough will soon elect a new mayor and is working on hiring a new manager, meanwhile sizable project deadlines are being met. Stoltze also complimented the Borough’s state lobbyist, Ray Gillespie.

The Borough’s number two priority project is the Bogard Road Extension, a 3.5 mile connection between the Glenn Highway in Palmer and Trunk Road. The segment provides a second east-west corridor, which will reduce the congestion on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. This highway has the highest fatality and major injuries per mile in the state. Brad Sworts, the Borough’s Transportation Division Manager, said Bogard’s design is 95 percent done. Two thirds of the right-of-way is purchased. “Come March, all we need are construction funds,” Sworts said.

Assembly Member Jim Colver laid out phase 2 of the Nordic Ski project at Hatcher Pass with an extended access road, 10 km of Olympic-class trails, a chalet, a stadium, a parking lot. “The snow level is 1,500 feet. The project’s a good draw for meets all over the state. It’s good for business,” Colver said. The $6 million in federal funds has put phase 1 on schedule for completion in fall 2011.

Assembly Members Cindy Bettine and Vern Halter highlighted the business asset of the proposed South Denali Visitor Center. Gov. Parnell included $3 million in capital funds last week for the project. Tourists are projected to spend an additional $44 million per year in the MAT-SU when the Center opens its doors, an ISER study indicates.

Assembly Member Warren Keogh also highlighted tourism as profitable business for the MAT-SU when he asked for support for the MAT-SU South Gateway Visitor Center. Some 780,000 annual visitors pass through the MAT-SU annually. The Center can point visitors to activities and businesses that may make them want to stay longer. Visitor numbers to the present tourism center off Trunk Road have dropped due to changes in access.

Legislators asked about the $12 million request for a ferry landing at Port MacKenzie.

Acting Borough Manager Gray said the M/V Susitna is performing sea trials beautifully outside Ketchikan. The ship recently offloaded heavy equipment successfully onto a beach. Support for the ship is building. Tyonek Native Corp., Kenai City, Kenai Peninsula Borough all seek ferry service. Oil service companies look to it in plans for sizeable manufacturing projects at Port MacKenzie. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport will be including it in its emergency operations plan for downed passenger airlines in Upper Cook Inlet. The U.S. Navy paid for most of the $70 million ship.

“We have the ship paid for, most ferry operations begin by owing 20 years of payments. We’re a little ahead in the game,” Gray said.

Deputy Mayor Arvin said an updated economic analysis will deliver new numbers on ridership and freight.

Last week the record of decision was signed, allowing the proposed $700 million Knik Arm Bridge to proceed. The three-mile bridge would link Point MacKenzie to Anchorage. Sen. Linda Menard, also a Boardmember on the Knik Arm Bridge & Toll Authority, said the ferry will support the bridge. Ferries are often precursors to bridges.

“When people start riding it back and forth and feeling that mile and a half joined (of Knik Arm), people will then demand that the bridge happens,” Menard said.

Photos: Top: Rep. Wes Keller, Rep. Mark Neuman, Sen. Charlie Huggins, Rep. Bill Stoltze. MIDDLE: Assembly Member Warren Keough, Assembly Member Noel Woods, and Assembly Member Jim Colver. LOWER: Assembly Member Cindy Bettine presents the delegation with the Borough's second print that highlights a priority project. Artist Linda Henning, pictured standing, painted the inspired image of the ship, winning first place in a Borough poster contest last year. Legislators will receive a framed print for their walls in Juneau. BOTTOM: Ferry print $20 each on high quality paper, autographed by Henning.

For more information on Borough priority projects call Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan, 745-9577 or 355-0103 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.