Comment By August 5th About DOT Dropping Miles 66-92 Glenn From Draft
DOT Comment Period Ends Aug 5th Residents Can Send A Comment Using This Email Address: dot.stip@alaska.gov Or You Can Send A Comment Us...

DOT Comment Period Ends Aug 5th
Residents Can Send A Comment Using This Email Address: dot.stip@alaska.gov
Or You Can Send A Comment Using This Form:
Bruce Cain cautions that the document is "over 500 pages long" so you must use search to find different projects.
Report Of The Meeting About State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) At The Glacier View Bible Church July 25, 2024
SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTRY JOURNAL BY BRUCE CAIN OF GLENNALLEN
Agenda· Call to Order
· Invocation
· Introductions
· Purpose of meeting
· Concerns that Glenn Highway MP 66-92 (Kings River to Cascade Hill) Reconstruct, has been removed from 24-27 Draft STIP amendment #1.
· What can be done to get the Project added back on the STIP and prioritized?
· Next Steps
o Sharing notes
o Sharing draft STIP comments
o Other
· Date Time and Place of next meeting if needed.
Minutes/Notes
· Call to Order
o Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM by Glacier View Community Council President Gary Wolske
· Invocation
o Pastor Brian Wilbert gave the invocation.
· Introductions
o President Gary Wolske introduced Bruce Cain, Chair of the Copper River Valley Regional Planning Organization (CRV-RPO) and gave him the floor.
o Mr. Cain introduced himself as Chair of the CRV-RPO and thanked the Glacier View community council for hosting the meeting and the Glacier View Bible Church for the meeting space. Mr. Cain stated that the CRV-RPO was reaching out to the Glacier View community as a concerned neighbor with a common interest in improving the condition of the Glenn Highway between MP 66 and MP 92.
o Mr. Cain recognized Representative, House District 29, George Rauscher, participating online. Representative Rauscher gave opening remarks.
o Mr. Cain recognized Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Commissioner Ryan Anderson participating online. Commissioner Anderson gave opening remarks.
o Mr. Cain introduced the committee members of the CRV-RPO participating online Martin Boniek, Joe Bovee, Brett Nelson.
o President Wolske introduced members of the Glacier View Community Council Vice President Bill Billmeyer and Treasurer Jamie Schroeder.
o Approximately 20 community members were in attendance.
o Commissioner Anderson introduced ADOT&PF staff that were in attendance online. Sean Holland, Central Region Director, Andy Mills, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, David Post, Planning Manager Central Region, Clint Adler, Mat-Su Division Office Lead, Brett Nelson, Northern Region Planning Lead and State appointed member of the CRV-RPO.
· Purpose of meeting
o Mr. Cain thanked the Glacier View community for their interest in this issue and stated the importance of prioritizing upgrades to the Glenn Highway between MP 66 and 92.
o Director Holland gave a summary of the STIP process.
o Director Holland gave a summary of work going forward on this section of road that is not specifically an individual STIP project, but rather program funding projects – preventive maintenance (PM) and safety (HSIP)
§ Resurfacing, broken into three project segments.
§ Rock fall prevention/mitigation projects
· MP 86 rock scaling is currently being advertised.
§ Guardrail safety improvements
· Concerns that Glenn Highway MP 66-92 (Kings River to Cascade Hill) Reconstruct, has been removed from 24-27 Draft STIP amendment #1.
o Mr. Cain stated the purpose of the meeting was to raise awareness that the previous project STIP ID: 28089 Reconstruct Glenn Highway between MP 66-92 was removed from the current STIP amendment and that it is critical that this project be added back to the STIP and prioritized.
o There is a desire to organize a coordinated response to be effective in returning this project to the STIP and take steps to ensure that the project is prioritized.
o The concerns were summarized by stating that residents of the Copper Basin and Glacier View are the most impacted by the hazardous conditions of the Glenn Highway between Kings River and Cascade Hill (MP 66-92) because we traverse it daily, weekly, and monthly. “When there is an accident on this stretch of the highway, very often our family members and friends are the ones that die. We bear the brunt of the risk every day. Other parts of the state share the risk, but only once or twice a year.” Commercial truckers who supply the whole state with goods risk their lives on this stretch of road daily and this impacts all Alaska citizens. Accidents and road closures threaten lives and disrupts the economy. This is a vital issue in all our lives.
o Representative Rauscher added that he has been concerned about the hazardous condition of this stretch of road for many years and works with AKDOT&PF on a very regular basis to address it. Representative Rauscher has taken ADOT&PF personnel on a driving tour of the highway from Wasilla to Lake Louise and has asked for traffic counts, tractor trailer counts and accident statistics.
· What can be done to get the Project added back on the STIP and prioritized?
o Commissioner Anderson gave a summary that the project was taken off the STIP and that it is in the process of being added back. There are competing projects and community support is important to this process.
o It was recommended that comments be focused on hazard reduction, safety issues, safety improvements and the economic importance of upgrades needed.
· Next Steps
o It was suggested that the CRV-RPO share comments on the STIP and send sample comments to the Glacier View Community Council.
§ These comments could be sent to President Wolske, and he will share it with the Glacier View community.
§ It was also suggested that the Glacier View Community Council share information with the CRV-RPO. Information sent to the CRV-RPO can be sent to Chairman Cain and he will get it distributed to the CRV-RPO.
o The question was asked if Glacier View Community Council would be willing to coordinate STIP comments on MP 66-92 and incorporate CRV-RPO concerns into their comments. There was consensus of the group that this was acceptable.
· Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
o A special meeting of the Glacier View Community Council will probably be called to get STIP comments together by the deadline. The deadline for comments is August 5, 2024.
o It was offered that the CRV-RPO would be willing to attend this meeting.
· Closing
o Mr. Cain yielded the floor to President Wolske.
o President Wolske thanked everyone for coming and spending time on this critical matter.
o The community thanked the CRV-RPO for reaching out.
· Adjournment
o President Wolske Adjourned the meeting at 8:00 PM.
· More Information Available at:
o https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/cip/stip/index.shtml
§ This link has the STIP with current projects listed
§ This link has a button to submit e comments
§ Comments can also be emailed to: dot.stip@alaska.gov
§ Comments are due August 5, 2024