 May 07, 2003
"Construction of a Knik Arm bridge is a cornerstone of my public transportation development plan," Murkowski said. "The bridge will unite Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough to enable growth to take place throughout southcentral Alaska. Passage of this legislation will create a public authority within the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to design, construct, and operate the bridge and the facilities connected with it. I urge the Legislature's favorable consideration of the bill this session." The independent authority, within DOT&PF but with an existence separate from the State of Alaska, would be able to receive federal funds and issue revenue bonds to finance the bridge and appurtenant facilities. It would be governed by a three-person board, consisting of the commissioners of revenue and DOT&PF, plus one member of the public appointed by the Governor for a 5-year term. The authority will be required to coordinate its decisions with the mayors of Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough. Murkowski said the establishment of the authority will be the first concrete step forward the state will have taken to bridge Knik Arm. "Pt. MacKenzie is right there, just a few miles from downtown Anchorage," he said. "This is a vital transportation link that will allow growth to happen in the logical place where it should happen. I want this authority to be a model for other large public works projects, such as the Gravina Access Project in Ketchikan, so that they can become reality, too."
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