By Jessica Edwards
The Haines Borough Assembly narrowly passed a resolution Nov. 20
reaffirming its support for improved ferry service rather than an east Lynn Canal highway.
The assembly passed a similar resolution in April 2004. Assemblywoman
Deborah Vogt brought forward the latest resolution as a response to a statement from Gov.
Sarah Palin asking communities to lobby legislators in support of road funding.
It adds to the original language a request for a segregated fund to
replace aging vessels and pledges borough cooperation in making improvements to the Haines
ferry terminal so that it is "a regional hub that will support daily service" to
Skagway and Juneau.
The resolution will be sent to state Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon,
state Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, and to Palin.
Mayor Fred Shields cast the tie-breaking vote. Assembly members Steve
Vick, Norm Smith, and Deborah Vogt voted in favor of the resolution. Jerry Lapp, Pete
Lapham and Dave Olerud voted against it.
Lapham said he supported a highway from Juneau and said he liked the
idea of a west access road best. "I think we’re making a drastic mistake by not
showing support for the road," he said.
Lapham said while the cost of the road was currently estimated at $350
million, a new ferry vessel costs about $250 million and doesn’t present any
substantial savings.
He said the ferries were not fuel-efficient, considering they often ran
empty in the winter. Building a road would free up ferries to make additional runs in
communities farther south, he said.
Vick countered that ferries would be integral to any road project, so
new ferries would have to be built and would run regardless. He said over a 25-year period
ferries were projected to cost less than a road.
Assembly member Jerry Lapp said he couldn’t support the resolution
the way it was written because it excluded a road to Juneau altogether. "It says in
the resolution we don’t want any roads. To me, that is wrong," he said in an
interview.
Lapp said that while he was in favor of improved ferry service, it
needed to be made more fuel and cost efficient. "I personally prefer a west side road
because that would be a great idea. It would open up a lot of recreation areas. I
don’t want to kill the idea of no roads whatsoever," Lapp said before
Tuesday’s vote.
Lapp said he supported a bridge across the river at 6 Mile Haines
Highway.
According to Lapp, a west Lynn Canal Highway "would be out of
sight of cruise ships and would be easier to build," crossing only one major
avalanche chute and cutting through fewer sections of sheer terrain. He said it would open
access to borough land on the west side of the canal.
Reuben Yost, project manager for the state Department of
Transportation, said the west access road was an alternative only if permits for the east
side road, currently pending, fell through, or a lawsuit filed in April by road opponents
proved successful.
According to DOT plans, a west side road would extend Glacier Highway
north from Juneau to a ferry terminal near Berner’s Bay. A ferry would shuttle
passengers to William Henry Bay on the west side of the canal, where passengers would
drive a 38-mile, two-lane road north to Haines.
Drivers would cross the Chilkat Inlet by bridge to Mud Bay Road. A
shuttle ferry would continue to run between Haines and Skagway.
Yost said DOT had deemed a west access road "half as
valuable" as the proposed East Lynn Canal Highway in terms of traveler time and
expense, although he said that construction would generally be easier due to the gently
sloping terrain.
"Two new ferry terminals would be expensive," Yost said.
"Thirty-year cycle costs are almost $25 million more, and initial costs are $10
million more. It would be more expensive to operate."
Yost said DOT had not considered a west access road since the project
analysis, completed in 2004, determined that the East Lynn Canal Highway was the preferred
alternative.
State Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, who attended the meeting, said that
once a resolution is passed, it remains in effect until the assembly rescinds it. Thus the
resolution adopted by the assembly in 2004 was still valid. But he said passing the second
resolution sent a message.
"If the legislators see that you don’t want it, and
you’re one community that’s providing the access, it helps."
Thomas said that the assembly should also send it to legislators on
transportation committees.
Thomas cited a recent statewide survey finding more than 80 percent of
Alaskans "opposed the road to Juneau statewide and favored rebuilding existing
roads" instead. Most said they wouldn’t use the proposed road if built.
Thomas said it might be advantageous to amend the resolution to make
mention of the survey.
