The Alaska Transportation Priorities Project (ATPP) promotes sensible transportation systems in Alaska with the goal of providing safe, economic, well-maintained, and environmentally-appropriate transportation throughout the state.

ATPP believes that the state should first focus funding and planning efforts on maintaining and improving existing infrastructure to benefit Alaskans before investing significant sums in costly, unnecessary transportation mega-projects like the Knik Arm and Gravina Bridges and the Juneau Road/Ferry project.

ATPP evolved as community leaders connected with conservation organizations, labor unions, land owners, residents, engineers, cargo shippers, tribes, and travelers. Groups with different missions realized they shared the same concerns: the state was failing to address Alaska’s true transportation priorities and instead was promoting hugely controversial mega-projects. Some allies oppose the proposed new roads and bridges. Others recognize that the mega-projects are not likely to be built in the near future and/or would not provide long-term jobs or improved transportation. Still others feel the mega-projects are simply unnecessary in light of more pressing needs. Whatever the reason, ATPP hopes you will join us in calling for improved prioritization of Alaska’s transportation needs.

About ATPP’s Director

Lois N. Epstein, P.E. has directed the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project since January 2007 following her previous work promoting alternatives to the proposed Knik Arm Bridge near Anchorage (also known as one of the two Alaskan “bridges to nowhere”). Before ATPP, Lois worked for Cook Inletkeeper in Anchorage, Alaska for over five years, a non-profit watershed protection organization, and Environmental Defense (formerly Environmental Defense Fund) in Washington, DC for over 13 years. Prior to these positions, Lois worked for two private consulting firms and the U.S. EPA Region 9 Office of Water. At ATPP, Lois promotes sensible transportation systems and policies in Alaska including stopping expensive and unnecessary transportation mega-projects; eliminating public subsidies for roads to mines and oil and gas fields; increasing public transit, walking, and biking opportunities; and making existing roads safer, better for cargo passage, and less problematic for fish passage.

In her previous work watch-dogging oil and gas issues in Alaska and nationally, Lois presented invited testimony before the U.S. Congress on over ten occasions and has appeared on CNN, CBS Evening News, and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and in other media outlets. Lois is a licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Alaska and Maryland. She has a masters degree from Stanford University in Civil Engineering with a specialization in environmental engineering and science, and undergraduate degrees from both Amherst College (in English) and MIT (in mechanical engineering). President Clinton nominated Lois in October 2000 to the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, however the U.S. Senate did not vote on her nomination before the end of the 106th Congress.

ATPP Advisory Committee Members

Walt Parker – Anchorage-based planner and former head of the state Division of Highways (now part of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities).

Pat Pourchot – Anchorage-based former head of the state Department of Natural Resources.

Tim Bristol – Juneau-based state director for Trout Unlimited.

Emily Ferry – Juneau-based “sensible transportation” advocate with the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council.

David Levy – Anchorage-based head of the Alaska Mobility Coalition, an organization that represents public, private and community transit providers in Alaska.

Cheryl Richardson – Anchorage-based consultant and staff for the Anchorage Citizens Coalition.

Dan Ritzman – Seattle-based Northwest/Alaska director of the Sierra Club.

Jan Wrentmore – Skagway-based entrepreneur and owner of the Red Onion Saloon.