In the past few weeks, there has been discussion about the recently passed Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), and specifically about projects that have been authorized for Alaska. It has been suggested that these projects are “pork” projects that hold no valid significance and do not meet any genuine need in the communities. These suggestions are inaccurate and misinformed.

The two projects receiving the most attention are the Knik Arm Crossing Bridge and the Gravina Island Bridge. These bridges were authorized strictly out of funds taken from the Highway Trust Fund, comprised of gasoline excise taxes and truck-related taxes on tires, truck-related sales, and heavy vehicle use, and specifically set aside for the construction and maintenance of a safe nationwide transportation system. National law dictates that money taken from the Highway Trust Fund may only be used for highway, transit, and highway safety related activities.

While some have said Congress should “give back” this authorized money, it is no longer under Congressional jurisdiction. The SAFETEA-LU Highway Bill was passed overwhelmingly by 412 members of the House of Representatives, and signed into law by President Bush. Once signed into law, the funds become the property of the state, and do NOT belong to any Member of Congress. Therefore, it is not in my or any Member of Congress’s ability to reassign that money to other projects, no matter how good the intentions might be.

Funding in the Highway Bill was determined based on a state’s need. According to the Alaska Department of Transportation, the Knik Arm Crossing Bridge is Alaska’s number one transportation priority and the Gravina Island Bridge their number two priority. The Knik Arm Bridge will connect the Port of Anchorage area and the Port Mackenzie area, provide an alternate emergency response and disaster evacuation route and stimulate economic growth for the area. It is a response to continuing transportation needs in the most heavily populated part of the state.

The Gravina Island Bridge is the project most assaulted by various media outlets who have relayed half-truths and skewed “facts” to the American public. The bridge will connect Gravina Island, where the Ketchikan Airport is located (frequented by multiple passenger jets daily, as well as FedEx, UPS, Postal Service and other cargo jets) to Ketchikan, which houses a population of roughly 8,000 people with a local area population of about 13,000 people. Having easy access to Gravina Island from Ketchikan, which now requires a ferry to get back and forth, will be invaluable in terms of emergency services and medivac access. It will provide a more efficient and dependable means of getting to the airport. It will make the Island more attractive in terms of economic and industrial development, and create more local jobs and incentives for property and business owners, in an area that has suffered a devastating loss of jobs in recent years. The Gravina Island Bridge will be a huge boom to an otherwise struggling economy.

Districts in every state fared well in the National Highway Bill, and the states are now in possession of these funds. The money given is money specifically for transportation, out of transportation funds, to better our national roads system. Should a state decide that they could do without funds to better their state, they are free to donate the money how they choose. I cannot decide this for any one state, nor do I intend to try to influence this decision. My job was in helping pass a needed and well written bill to help improve and enhance America’s transportation system. I believe that goal was achieved. It is now in the hands of the individual states of this great country.

For more information please visit:
www.knikarmbridge.com
www.gravina-access.com