Public Radio for Alaska's Bristol Bay
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Other

Southwest Alaska Getting Attention From Alaska Department of Transportation

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

There is a new survey being conducted in Southwest Alaska will analyze the answers of residence in the area.  Their answers could help bring money to projects that will better the community. 

The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has approved the Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan Phase One and is now beginning Phase Two.  The department looks at the different needs of each region and the state disperses funds depending on the needs of projects. 

Area Planner with the Alaska DOT Joselyn Biloon is the Project Manager for the Update to the Southwest Area Transportation Plan.  She says the DOT looks at several aspects of need before deciding just where the money goes.

“And so we look at all modalities, we look at ferries, we look at roads, we look at airports. In the Southwest region we look a great deal at airports because so many people have very limited access to the road system. And we do this every ten years, we make a series of recommendations. Then when the statewide plan comes out the Long Range Transportation Plan comes out, it looks at the recommendations of the regional plan.”

The first update provided background information on the existing transportation system, population and economic forecasts.  It also focused on the issues and needs of residents in Southwest Alaska through surveys and research. 

Southwest Area Planner Rebecca Rauf has been studying the Bristol Bay area specifically.  She says she has received a lot of feedback-- both about ongoing projects and potential problems.

“We’ve had a lot of comments about the bike trail along Kanakanak throughout the last two years. So I have a lot of feedback about pedestrians, so on a local level that’s what I hear about. Downtown streets is a project that’s still in design, and that’s redoing D Street and Main Street off of Kanakanak. We have a lot of feedback from the community so far. And that’s something that we are hoping to do in the next few years.”

Phase Two is taking a close look at airport runway lengths, ferry services, safety and emergency response and land transportation options. The survey is available until July 31st and can be found on the Alaska DOT website under the Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan Update.

A public meeting will be held in Dillingham this fall to residents wanting to learn about the project and participate in any developments coming up.