In an increasingly constrained federal fiscal environment, the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project (ATPP) places a higher priority on maintaining and preserving existing roads than building new roads to link communities that are currently unconnected to the state’s major roads. ATPP thinks that most Alaskans agree with this approach.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT) main function is to provide mobility for people and goods, including congestion relief.  Reducing congestion can be accomplished a number of ways including congestion pricing (i.e., tolling during peak use periods), express bus lanes, online information and signage about backups, quick accident removal from roadways, alternatives to driving, and promoting compact land use. In all cases of congestion, DOT specialists need to consider these types of solutions before contemplating new or expanded roads. The least desirable way to address congestion is to expand or connect roads because it inevitably will result in congestion at a later point. Rarely are new or expanded roads the only option.

Through numerous conversations with decision-makers and interested members of the public, ATPP is compiling a list of road projects with widespread, multi-stakeholder support, and will publish this list on the www.aktransportation.org website. At present, ATPP supports the following new, significant road project:

The Seward Highway to Glenn Highway Connection (http://www.highway2highway.com) in Anchorage, “designated the number one congestion relief project for Anchorage by municipal and state transportation staff and elected officials.” This costly mega-project, which passes through a densely-populated portion of Anchorage, includes extensive and ongoing neighborhood and public involvement resulting in widespread support for the project (though important project details still must be addressed).