Alaska’s Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) recently released the results of public input from an opinion survey on the future of the state’s transportation. More than 3,000 comments were made, and 1,700 responses were received.
“Hearing from Alaskans is particularly important to the department,” Ryan Anderson, DOT&PF commissioner, said. “Every community and every mode of travel could benefit from an influx of funding, and we want to engage the public in that conversation – what’s going to be the biggest impact and the biggest benefit for their families.”
The survey asked the modes of transportation participants use most frequently and what they prioritize. Two more open-ended questions asked participants where they want to see improvements and how they envision Alaska’s transportation in 20 years.
The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will increase Alaska’s highway transportation funding formulas by approximately 40 percent and will double the aviation formula funding program. The bill also contains funding for bridges, ferries, electrification of highways, and discretionary grant items.
The Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration will issue guidance as to eligibility and grant opportunities this year.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 10 ferries serving 35 communities, more than 5,600 miles of highway, and 776 public facilities.