State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

Recommendations By Alaska Travel Industry Association
to the
State Transportation Improvement Program

The Alaska Travel Industry Association (AlaskaTIA) considers the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)to be a significant funding document that economically impacts tourism and travel. Small and large tourism related businesses are all dependant on transportation infrastructure in Alaska. Without a consistent, consolidated plan for Alaska’s transportation systems, the future of state tourism will be in jeopardy.

General recommendations for future Department of Transportation and Public Facilities development follow.

General Roadway & Facilities Recommendations:

AlaskaTIA’s general position regarding road and transportation improvements is that Alaska’s lands should be more accessible via planned access routes that are identified through a process that considers environmental issues, local community concerns and regulatory reform. In addition, we support streamlining and consolidating the permitting process wherever possible.

Following are AlaskaTIA prescribed general guidelines for supporting specific projects as developed with our member's input:

• We support major road improvements, including widening, shoulder development turnouts, passing lanes and pavement upgrades to highways statewide. We also suggest that all improvement work that is done to highways take into consideration the potential inconvenience to the traveling public during the peak travel season.
  
• We support infrastructure and transportation development, improvements and maintenance for both year-round and seasonal roads.
  
• We support a higher maintenance status for Alaska's rest stops. Where feasible, the we also support partnering with communities, state and federal agencies and private industry to develop new strategies for maintaining rest stops and roadside facilities.
  
• We suggest that the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities development a comprehensive list of potential roadside rests throughout Alaska that can be established and link them to a funded plan and timeline for development in line with the Alaska Land Manager's Forum recommendations of January 1998.
  
• We suggest that the DoT provide signage at all roadside rest areas throughout Alaska indicating that there is no overnight camping allowed. In addition, provide directions to the closest commercial facilities that provide safe, clean, attractive and secure overnight accommodations. Assure compliance by adequately funding law enforcement oversight.
  
• We suggest that the DoT develop a comprehensive funding mechanism to allow 2-year schedule planning for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
  
• We suggest that the DoT improve the Alaska Marine Highway system through continued implementation of recommendations made in the 2002 McDowell study Marine Highway Transportation Improvement Study - Part 1 as funded through the Southeast Alaska Conference.

Below is our most recent STIP Recommendation Report

• Request for Projects to be included - July 2005
• Initial Requests Summarized - August 9, 2005
• Initial Presentation to AlaskaTIA Board of Directors - August 16, 2005
• Proposed Comments to AlaskaTIA - September 9, 2005
• Proposed STIP Recommendations to AlaskaTIA Board of Directors - Convention (October 4-6, 2005)
• Final STIP Recommendations submitted to Alaska DoT - October 31, 2005