Sheffield has helped lead port toward success

I not only have a vested interest for my company but also for the general public in seeing that our port is maintained and improved for its continued use. For these reasons, I have served many years on the port commission, of which I am currently chair. During this time, the port has struggled with deteriorated dock pilings and infrastructure. I have closely followed the progress behind the intermodal expansion vision currently under way. Even with evaporating funds, unforeseen governmental regulations, construction issues and contractor-damaged sheet piles -- all of which the media has headlined -- the port has continued to serve the Alaska community at large.

This continuation of uninterrupted service is largely attributable to the hard work by those down at the port, particularly outgoing port director and former Gov. Bill Sheffield. Without his vision, dedication and tenacity it would have been easy to let the status quo remain unchallenged, to be content with deteriorating and outdated infrastructure that may be sufficient for the moment but that leaves us vulnerable and hampers future growth.

Sheffield is dedicated to this project and I admire him for the leadership he provided during this critical transition period. It would have been very easy to seek retirement at the first signs of trouble. But at the age of 83, he guided the project through a difficult period and worked to enact essential changes moving forward. I have watched the project develop over the past decade and I am both encouraged and heartened by the updates provided to the port commission. I believe the changes initiated by the port and the municipality will result in the future success of this important project.

I was further encouraged and heartened by Sheffield's update given at December's port commission meeting. He described in detail the scaled-back project on which they were focusing and the ongoing efforts to initiate improvements and changes in project management. The changes Gov. Sheffield described included a design suitability review by CH2MHill, an independent review of the construction to date by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a United States Department of Transportation inspector general audit of the U.S. Maritime Administration's (MARAD) ability to manage infrastructure projects (MARAD, the federal lead agency for this project, administers all funds and has acted as the contracting and procurement agent), the formalization of a project management and oversight committee, and, perhaps most important, the signing of a new memorandum of agreement between MARAD and the Municipality of Anchorage.

This new agreement paves the way for a major transition for the project by May, at which point the municipality will identify a new agency or other designee to act as the design and construction agent moving forward. I walked away from the meeting with the impression that the project was smaller, focused and achievable.

I applaud Mayor Sullivan and Gov. Sheffield for working to ensure that this project moves forward successfully.

The Port of Anchorage is essential to the state and regional transportation network, contributing more than $750 million a year to Alaska's economy. The history and culture of the ships that have called on the port for 50 years is bountiful. Please take time to educate yourself about the port. You can research the port online, take a tour or visit with your group. This port is Alaska's lifeline. Support it. You depend on it.

Last, thank you to Gov. Sheffield for his service to Alaska and building better infrastructure for our future.

Sue Linford is the owner of Linford of Alaska, Inc., and chairwoman of the Anchorage Port Commission.