Knik Arm Bridge: Difference between revisions

In 2003, the [[Alaska Legislature]] created the Knik Arm Bridge And Toll Authority (KABATA), to develop a method of construction, financing, design, operation and maintenance of the bridge.<ref name="http://knikarmbridge.com/about.html">{{cite web |url=http://knikarmbridge.com/about.html |title=KABATA About Us |publisher=Knikarmbridge.com |accessdate=2012-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521020520/http://www.knikarmbridge.com/about.html |archivedate=2012-05-21 }}</ref> By 2010, KABATA had completed the final [[Environmental Impact Statement]] (EIS) and [[#Received "Record of Decision" from Federal Highways Administration|had obtained]] a "build" Record of Decision from the [[Federal Highway Administration]] (FHWA).

Some opponents argue the bridge is a "[[pork-barrel project]]" because it was tied to the [[Gravina Island Bridge]] in its $450 million plus funding legislation.<ref>[http://dwb.adn.com/news/alaska/knik/story/8142072p-8034336c.html]{{dead link|date=November 2012}}</ref> There is also concern it could threaten a population of [[beluga whale]]s despite receiving a biological opinion of 'no jeopardy' from the [[National Marine Fisheries Service]].<ref name="http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/esa/section7/knikarm/biop1110.pdf">{{cite web|url=http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/esa/section7/knikarm/biop1110.pdf |title=Endangered Species Act: Section 7 Consultation Biological Opinion, VII. Conclusion|page=71|publisher=Fakrfakr.noaa.gov|accessdate=2012-11-02}}</ref> Interconnecting with existing Anchorage freeways and other arteries presents an additional challenge.

Former Governor [[Sarah Palin]] has been criticized for supporting the project, with one attorney for an environmentalist group suggesting she only supports it because it serves the area that she comes from.<ref name="palinotherbridge">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-16-Palin-bridge_N.htm |title=Palin supports $600 million 'other' bridge project |work=USA Today | date=September 16, 2008 | accessdate=May 7, 2010}}</ref> Palin's running mate in the 2008 presidential election [[John McCain]] opposes the bridge, calling the bill funding it and the [[Gravina Island Bridge]] a "monstrosity," that was "terrifying in its fiscal consequences"."<ref name="palinotherbridge"/>

In 2011, the cityCity of Anchorage filed a lawsuit to force the federal government to drop its green light for the controversial Knik Arm bridge project, arguing that it would hurt the Port of Anchorage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2011/07/07/1956920/city-wants-ok-for-knik-bridge.html#storylink=cpy |title=KNIK ARM: Muni says it will hurt port, wants federal OK dropped. |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |date=2011-07-07 |accessdate=2013-06-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819130328/http://www.adn.com/2011/07/07/1956920/city-wants-ok-for-knik-bridge.html#storylink=cpy |archivedate=2012-08-19 }}</ref>

Some critics have expressed a belief that the toll revenue estimates provided to rationalize construction are unrealistic, as well.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/03/15/1184860/knik-arm-bridge-estimates-just.html |title=Knik Arm Bridge Estimates Just Don't Add Up. |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |date=2010-03-15 |accessdate=2013-06-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318015447/http://www.adn.com/2010/03/15/1184860/knik-arm-bridge-estimates-just.html |archivedate=2014-03-18 }}</ref>

BecauseAs ofthe allproject ofhas thebeen laden with concerns, thefor demisemost of theits projectlifespan, its ultimate demise has long been expected for years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.taxpayer.net/library/article/final-days-of-don-youngs-way |title=Final Days of Don Young's Way? |publisher=Taxpayers for Common Sense |date=2008-06-09 |accessdate=2013-06-21}}</ref> Funding for the project has been repeatedly removed from the state budget by Governor [[Bill Walker (U.S. politician)|Bill Walker]].<ref name=miner/><ref name=APRN/>

Supporters of the bridge believe that the bridge would allow the growing population of the region to expand into the Point MacKenzie area.<ref name="http://www.knikarmbridge.com/documents/KABATASurveyReport-Final.pdf">{{cite web|url=http://www.knikarmbridge.com/documents/KABATASurveyReport-Final.pdf|title=Dittman Survey|date=December 2011|page=18|publisher=Knikarmbridgeknikarmbridge.com|accessdate=2012-11-02|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318023348/http://www.knikarmbridge.com/documents/KABATASurveyReport-Final.pdf|archivedate=2014-03-18}}</ref> The approach road and connectors, along with the bridge total about {{convert|10|mi|km}} from Downtown Anchorage, about the same commuting distance as other available land in Anchorage. The residents of the Matanuska/-Susitna Valley currently have only a single road to get to and from Anchorage and points south and Anchorage residents only have a single route to all points north. The [[George Parks Highway|Parks Highway]] which runs through [[Willow, Alaska]], [[Houston, Alaska]] and [[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]], joins the [[Glenn Highway]], which continues along a strip of land between [[Chugach State Park]] and the military bases north of Anchorage. The Knik Arm Bridge and connecting roads would provide a secondary north/south roadway to Wasilla. There is however concern, however, that the only paved connecting road on the Matanuska/Susitna Borough side of the bridge, which is the Knik Goose Bay Road, is presently overcapacity and listed as one of the four most dangerous roads in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/hwysafety/safety_corridors.shtml |title=Safety Corridor, Alaska Highway Safety Office, Transportation & Public Facilities, State of Alaska |publisher=Dotdot.state.ak.us |date= |accessdate=2012-11-02}}</ref> The commuting distance for the vast majority of all existing residents of the Matanuska/Susitna Valley would not be lessened by taking the Knik Arm Bridge, a factor that Bridge critics say make KABATA's current revenue forecasts from the Bridgeproposed Tollsbridge tolls to be overstated.<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Halcro |url=http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/knik-arm-crossing-bridge-too-far |title=Knik Arm Crossing: A bridge too far? |publisher=Alaska Dispatch |date=2011-02-16 |accessdate=2012-11-02}}</ref>

In October 2005, Alaska Senator [[Ted Stevens]] opposed diverting Alaska's funding for the Gravina and Knik Arm Bridge funds to Louisiana to repair bridge damage in [[Hurricane Katrina]]. In his speech on the senate floor, Stevens threatened to quit Congress if the funds were removed from his state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7112853p-7020074c.html |title=Stevens says he'll quit if bridge funds diverted |work=Anchorage Daily News |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014174402/http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7112853p-7020074c.html |archivedate=2006-10-14 }}</ref> [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] in [[United States Congress|Congress]] dropped the specific allocation for the two bridges, allowing Alaska to apply the moneyfunding to current transportation projects. Governor [[Frank Murkowski]] planned to fully fund both bridges: "I am proposing we spend the maximum allowed."{{citation needed|date=September 2008}}

In 2009, Anchorage Metro Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS) decided to postpone the project and remove it from Anchorage's short term transportation plan until 2018. The cities of [[Houston, Alaska|Houston]] and [[Wasilla]] responded with a lawsuit becauseunder the premise that AMATS did not have the authority to delay the project, whichhighlighting that the affected segment of the local road system is designated as a National Highway System route.<ref name="http://articles.ktuu.com/2010-03-25/bridge-opponents_24128058">{{cite web |url=http://articles.ktuu.com/2010-03-25/bridge-opponents_24128058 |title=AMATS votes to keep Knik Arm bridge in city's short-term plans - KTUU.com |publisher=Articles.ktuu.com |date=2010-03-25 |accessdate=2012-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018160151/http://articles.ktuu.com/2010-03-25/bridge-opponents_24128058 |archivedate=2015-10-18 }}</ref> In March 2010, with new members, the AMATS Policy Committee with new members, reversed their previous decision and re-instated the bridge project into the short term transportation plan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Daily |first=Anchorage |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/03/25/1199730/knik-arm-bridge-stays-in-short.html |title=Knik Arm bridge stays in short-term plan &#124; Knik Arm Bridge |publisher=ADN.com |date=2010-03-25 |accessdate=2012-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825124908/http://www.adn.com/2010/03/25/1199730/knik-arm-bridge-stays-in-short.html |archivedate=2012-08-25 }}</ref>

In December 2010, the FHWA issued a "Record of Decision" accepting the project's Environmental Impact Statement, after overmore than seven years and approximately $53 Millionmillion were spent on studies, preliminary designs, public relations and cost estimating.<ref>{{cite web |author=KYLEKyle HOPKINSkhopkinsHopkins (khopkins@adn.com) |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/12/15/1606454/knik-bridge-route-okd-questions.html |title=Feds OK Knik Arm bridge route, but big obstacles remain &#124; Knik Arm Bridge |publisher=ADN.com |date=2010-12-15 |accessdate=2012-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819130410/http://www.adn.com/2010/12/15/1606454/knik-bridge-route-okd-questions.html |archivedate=2012-08-19 }}</ref> KABATA has stated that they have asked their Tolltoll and Revenuerevenue Consultantconsultant, Wilbur Smith Associates, <ref>[http://www.wilbursmith.com/index.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222202556/http://www.wilbursmith.com/index.htm |date=February 22, 2011 }}</ref> to re-visit their revenue and toll forecasts to reflect conditions that have changed since 2005,. These changed conditions includingincluded revised population estimates for the Matanuska -Susitna Borough by the [[University of Alaska Anchorage]]'s Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), thatof which the estimates were found to arebe as much as 50% lower than those forecasts used in the project's EIS to showshowing that the Tolltoll Bridgebridge was "financially feasible"."

Alaska State Senator [[Linda Menard]] and House Representative [[Mark Neuman]] introduced a set of companion bills in 2011 to establish a project reserve fund and clarify that the project is an infrastructure project backed by the state. These changes were necessitated by the national[[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|2008 national financial crisis]]. It would allow the state to repay the private investors when toll revenue is building up in early years after opening.<ref name="http://housemajority.org/item.php?id=item20110922-276">{{cite web |url=http://housemajority.org/item.php?id=item20110922-276 |title=Press Release: 2011-09-22 - Six Major Private Groups Show Interest in Knik Arm Crossing - 27th AK Legislature House Majority |publisher=Housemajority.org |accessdate=2012-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630024228/http://housemajority.org/item.php?id=item20110922-276 |archivedate=2012-06-30 }}</ref>

Alaska House Bill 159 and Senate Bill 07979, introduced in 2011 respectively by Representative Neuman and Senator Menard, set aside $150 Millionmillion into a "reserve fund",paid byto thebe paid with State General Funds to cover the estimated deficits for the first three years.<ref>{{cite nameweb |url="https://web.archive.org/web/20210330045505/http://www.legisakleg.stategov/basis/Bill/Detail/27?Root=HB+159 |title=Alaska House Bill 159, 27th Legislature of Alaska |publisher=akleg.gov |date= |accessdate=2021-03-29}}</ref><ref name="https://web.akarchive.usorg/basisweb/get_bill20210330021052/www.aspakleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/27?session=27&billRoot=SB79">{{cite web|url=httphttps://wwwweb.legisarchive.stateorg/web/20210330021052/www.akakleg.usgov/basis/get_bill.aspBill/Detail/27?session=27&billRoot=SB79 |title=BillAlaska History/ActionSenate forBill 79, 27th Legislature of Alaska |publisher=Legis.state.akakleg.usgov |date= |accessdate=20122021-1103-0229}}</ref> Additionally, House Bill 158 and Senate Bill 08080, also introduced in 2011 by Neuman and Menard, specifies saysthat KABATA bonds willwould now be "obligations of the state."<ref name="https://web.archive.org/web/20210330025327/http://www.legisakleg.stategov/basis/Bill/Detail/27?Root=HB+158">{{cite web|url=https://web.akarchive.usorg/basisweb/get_bill20210330025327/http://www.aspakleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/27?sessionRoot=HB+158 |title=Alaska House Bill 158, 27th Legislature of Alaska |publisher=akleg.gov |date= |accessdate=2021-03-29}}</ref><ref name="https://web.archive.org/web/20210330022254if_/http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/27&bill?Root=SB80SB+80">{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330022254if_/http://www.legisakleg.state.ak.usgov/basis/get_bill.aspBill/Detail/27?sessionRoot=27&bill=SB80SB+80 |title=BillAlaska History/ActionSenate forBill 79, 27th Legislature of Alaska |publisher=Legisakleg.state.ak.usgov |date= |accessdate=20122021-1103-0229}}</ref> None of these four bills advanced beyond referral to [[Alaska Legislature#Legislative process|committee]].

KABATA CFO Kevin Hemenway told the Legislature's transportation committees that if the project's reserve fund dropped far enough, "it would be subject to appropriation for replenishment."<ref>{{cite web |author=SEANSean Cockerham COCKERHAMscockerham(scockerham@adn.com) |url=http://www.adn.com/2011/02/12/1699393/supporters-seek-150m-for-knik.html |title=Supporters seek $150 million for the Knik Arm bridge &#124; Knik Arm Bridge |publisher=ADN.com |date=2011-02-12 |accessdate=2012-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825124237/http://www.adn.com/2011/02/12/1699393/supporters-seek-150m-for-knik.html |archivedate=2012-08-25 }}</ref>

InThe 2013day a legislative audit found thatafter KABATA hadwas overestimatedmerged potentialinto revenue from tollsAHFC, leadingAlaska toHouse aBill decision23 to(introduced placein theJanuary organization2013) underwas thesigned directinto control of the [[Alaska Housing Finance Corporation]]law, essentiallyobligating stripping KABATA of any independent authority$1.14 Thebillion movein isstate alsofunds expected to significantly slowfor the project, with AHFC explicitly rejecting any sort of timetable for completion.<ref>Mauer, Richard [http://www.adn.com/2013/04/1112/28615312861850/ahfchouse-chiefpassed-balksknik-at-agencybridge-takingbill.html House panel votes to turnpassed Knik ArmBridge bridge over to AHFCbill] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/2013041205211620130415230117/http://www.adn.com/2013/04/1112/28615312861850/ahfchouse-chiefpassed-balksknik-at-agencybridge-takingbill.html |date=April 12, 2013 }} Anchorage Daily News, 4/1112/2013</ref>