Our view: Knik bridge

State should not try to ram through controversial project

Published: June 10th, 2009 08:47 PM
Last Modified: June 10th, 2009 08:48 PM

As Anchorage's local government and transportation planners near the end of a nine-month process aimed at halting the expensive and controversial Knik Arm Bridge project, the Palin administration has suddenly stepped in and is trying to keep the project alive. It's a misguided use of state time and transportation dollars. Many people, including us, believe the bridge to mostly empty land in the Mat-Su does not fit into Anchorage 2020, the city's development plan. It promotes sprawling development outside city limits and hurts prospects for smarter urban growth in Anchorage. The bridge would dump bridge vehicle traffic into the city center -- into a downtown that the city has been trying to improve for pedestrians, such as shoppers, conventioneers and museum-goers. That's counter-productive.

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Others balk at the price tag, starting at $700 million -- another legitimate concern. The bridge backers had been hoping for private financing, but with the world recession that's looking less likely. The latest idea is that the state would co-sign for revenue bonds to build the project. The bonds would be paid back by tolls on bridge users -- another iffy proposition.

A majority of the Anchorage Assembly voted last September to consider deleting the bridge from city's Long Range Transportation Plan. Various committees and commissions have had since then to study all the ramifications. A draft proposal to axe the bridge project has been out for public comment since April. The issue is now before the Assembly for a recommendation, and the joint state-municipal panel that makes the decision, known as the AMATS Policy Committee, is due to vote later this month.

But in the past three weeks, Frank Richards, deputy state transportation commissioner, has sent out two letters charging that AMATS is rushing the process, violating "contractual commitments" made to the state and violating federal law.

Richards said the process bypassed getting a recommendation from an AMATS technical advisory group and he complained that AMATS didn't allow enough time for meaningful public comment.

Municipal transportation director Lance Wilber said he disagrees. Wilber notes the technical group voted 3-2 to put the issue out for public comment, and said the technical committee will make its own recommendation before the AMATS Policy Committee decides.

The Palin administration's interest in pushing the project is relatively new. Mike Foster, chairman of the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority board says that as recently as six months ago, the authority, an arm of the state, was left pretty much alone.

"That changed the last two months," said Foster. The Palin administration considers it a high priority project, and of statewide significance, he told the Assembly.

Obviously, some Anchorage Assembly members want to get the Knik Arm crossing out of Anchorage's plan before Mayor-elect Dan Sullivan takes office in July. Sullivan has said he supports the crossing. As mayor, Sullivan will become one of the five members on the AMATS Policy Committee and could cast the decisive vote to keep the project going.

But even so, the matter has not been rushed. It's been under consideration for months.

The Palin administration should not at the last minute try to derail the lengthy, deliberative process to reconsider an expensive and unnecessary project that will siphon future growth away from the state's largest city.

BOTTOM LINE: The Palin administration has come off the sidelines to try to keep this dubious project alive.