Juneau Access

What’s your take on the Juneau Access Project (aka the Road)?

I think that we have tremendous opportunities and challenges as a community and the Juneau Access Project is one that people don’t agree on. About half the town thinks it’s a good idea and the other half of the town doesn’t think it’s a good idea. I’m concerned as a municipal official – should the people elect me to be so – about the costs to our community from such a road. We would have to provide ambulance services far out the road. I would like to see us develop and improve transportation on things we can agree on and I’m concerned about two ferry terminals being built and having to be operated – one in Katzehin, one in Auke Bay – they would both need to be still there. So, I would like to see us focus on development projects that have the potential of increasing housing, increasing our economic base – things like developing the West Douglas property, North Douglas extension. I think we can agree on those things and do good for our economic development by pursuing those projects.

The Juneau Access Project, it’s been reviewed by the city attorney and the city attorney has found that the project is legal. The city Assembly has voted that the project is legal. And it’s my understanding that the city has also issued a permit for the road. So as far as the Juneau Access project goes, that’s a state project, and they’re taking the lead on that at this point.

I support all forms of access to the capital city. It’s important that the rest of the state have access, whether by road, by ferry, by airplane. In order for Juneau to remain the capital city we must have access, and I support all forms of access to the capital city.

We need as the Capital City to do everything that we can to make the Capital City accessible to Alaska citizens so that they can take part in their government. Whether its additional ferry systems, whether it is improvements in internet and videoconferencing – a lot of the stuff that KTOO has done in the past – whether it’s additional road access, all of those things I think need to be in the mix to ensure the rest of the State that Juneau is a responsive and responsible Capital City and going to make sure that all citizens have access to their government. I’m definitely open to it. The thing to realize is that we – as a Borough – can’t afford to build a road. We’re not going to be building a road. However, if there’s State funds, if there’s Federal funds that are available and can be used and it’s shown that it’s going to help with that access, I think that it’s incumbent on us to do whatever we need to do to encourage that use.

The Road is one of those issues that you can start an argument with anytime. I have spent a lot of years looking at a lot of studies on that road. It doesn’t make economic sense. It’s not going to deliver the kind of benefits that they predict. I mean, they’re predicting daily commuters on that road with those kind of traffic counts. And the cost is grossly, vastly underestimated.

So I believe that we need to do all we can to improve access to our capital city through the airport, through the internet and various electronic media. I think the funds that the city puts into things like Gavel to Gavel are a huge benefit to Alaskans accessing their capital. But the cost benefit doesn’t make any sense for that proposal.

I hope that I live long enough to drive out of Juneau. I believe that had this been done in the 70s, it would no longer be a divisive issue in our community.

I’ve always been personally against the road. I think with the state fiscal situation and the city fiscal situation, I don’t think it’s something that either can afford right now. I think that while it would have some decent economic impact on town, I think that money can be spent in a way in town to get a better return on the value.

I think that’s been something we’ve probably needed quite awhile. Without that, the only way in an out of town is the ferry system or the airport. There are a lot of little towns that Juneau residents would have access to, and the people from those towns would have access to Juneau with a land route out.

And I think the city ought to do what it can for that project. But ultimately it may come down to the state. I doubt that the city can afford to do that all by itself. Sort of a big project.

I am pro-road. But I say that, too, I look at it as a three-prong approach. All citizens of Alaska deserve access to the capitol. The road being one of them. But also, we need to recognize the need that the ferries also — they’d need updating as well.

So while I am pro-road, I understand that it should be a combination. If you do the road, you should also look at doing the ferry systems, eventually do the ferry systems as well. And of course the airport access is another way. And communications, as well. I think if you look at it as a combination of those things, or choosing any one of the combination, it will certainly help for the access to Juneau. And conversely, help us get goods up to the interior as well.