One sailing to Haines was added to accommodate lawmakers traveling to Juneau for the session, but the plan left Skagway high and dry.
Transportation
Skagway works to pioneer one of the first electric ferry programs in the country
The Skagway Assembly passed a resolution that establishes an electric ferry pilot program.
Alaska ferries add January sailings after lawmakers scramble to plan travel ahead of session
Some lawmakers were scrambling to make travel plans when they found out the Matanuska would not be back in service before the new year as planned.
State to move forward with plans to replace ferry Tustumena
The new ferry will run along the Tustumena’s current route from Homer to Kodiak and out the Aleutian chain to Dutch Harbor. The Tustumena replacement has been a years-old political project in coastal Alaska.
Repairs to the Matanuska could leave a huge gap in Southeast ferry service
The Matanuska was supposed to return to service in late December, but state officials now say they’re not sure when it’ll be ready.
Alaska seeks private operators to fill gaps in winter ferry schedule
The state of Alaska is looking to the private sector to offer ferry service between Juneau and four Southeast villages facing months-long gaps this winter from January to March.
Rep. Dan Ortiz optimistic ferry service to Prince Rupert will resume in May
State ferries haven’t run the 120-mile route linking the panhandle with the northern British Columbia road system since 2019.
Sudden windstorm takes out power for thousands in Wrangell and Petersburg
The first outages happened on Wrangell Island around 12:30 Tuesday.
Canada relaxes COVID test requirements for residents returning from short trips to the US
Canadians traveling to the U.S. for trips of three days or less no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to cross back into their home country.
Trucks are traveling by river from Bethel to Napaskiak, but some dangers remain
There are cars and small trucks traveling on the frozen Kuskokwim River around Bethel, but don’t call it an ice road yet.