I recently spoke with a European friend who told me she wants to visit Alaska, travel, and hike around the state. She was surprised when I told her that public transit, specifically the rail system, is severely limited and much more expensive than air travel. Alaskans and visitors deserve efficient and affordable ways to move around the state. As we approach this fall’s elections, it’s important to think about the leadership we want and whichcandidates will work to enhance our economy and quality of life. Establishing a commuter rail system is a crucial part of that vision. Here’s why.
This fall, a round trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train will cost you $452, which is $250 more than a ticket on Alaska Airlines. And if you’re visiting the state and want to take a trip to Denali without a driver’s license, a round trip by train from Golden Heart City will set you back $176. While only about200 passengers per day desired an idyllic ride through the wilderness in the first quarter of 2024, most of us just need a solid public transit that won’t break the bank.
Streamlining commutes and easing travel
Many, including the previous gubernatorial administration, have recognized the commuter rail system as a doable solution to overcrowded roads. Bill Walker in 2018 establishedthe Commuter Rail Advisory Task Force, which was rescinded by Mike Dunleavy in 2019. The goal of Walker’s initiative was to look into establishing a commuter rail line between Wasilla and Anchorage. The Mat-Su Borough is the state’s fastest-growing area, with a population of approximately 113,000. Many residents from the valley commute to Anchorage for work daily. According to the state’sDepartment of Transportation & Public Facilities, the Glenn Highway between Anchorage and Mat-Su Valley witnesses 33,000 vehicles every day. With no viable alternative route, an increasing number of Alaskans in the Mat-Su Valley daily waste one and a half hours (without traffic) commuting to and from work.
A commuter rail system is a solution that will save Alaskans time and stress. According to an early report shared byAlaska Commuter Rail Coalition, a monthly train ticket would cost commuters 74% less than paying for gas and parking.
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Pragmatic economic solution funded with federal dollars
Walker’s administration found that the pilot program for the Wasilla-Anchorage line would cost$15.2 million to cover annual operating expenses and initial capital. Considering inflation, that figure would now be approximately $20.2 million, or 0.16% of the state budget for the current fiscal year. The Alaska Railroad would operate the program on the existing tracks. The bulk of the infrastructure is ready to serve hardworking Alaskans and those who want to visit our state.
The good news is that the state won’t need to use its own funds to finance the public transit we deserve. Congress in 2021 passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes funding for passenger rail improvement. The Alaska Railroad has already receivedan $8.2 million grant to replace a bridge on the North Corridor mainline in Willow. Money for the project comes from the law’sFederal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program, which, despite its emphasis on passenger rail, mostly benefits Alaska’s freight service.Our congressional delegation supported the historic investment, recognizing the need for updated public infrastructure. Commuter rail will not cost the state an arm and a leg. The Alaska Railroad must take greater advantage of federal dollars and offer transit options we can all appreciate. In 2002, the state-owned corporation issued a234-page report on commuter rail benefits. It’s time to turn this theory into action.
A smart and safe solution to traffic
On average, Americans spend54 hours a year in rush hour traffic. To me, riding a train to work sounds like a much more pleasant experience than being stuck on the road. Commuter rail is one of the safest modes of transportation and promotes economic development by expanding tax revenue and improving access to urban centers.
An efficient commuter rail system would also increase the number of tourists. My friend from Europe, who doesn’t have a driver’s license, could finally visit me and experience the beauties of our state. International tourists currently represent only 5% of all visitors. If we want people from around the world to come and spend money, we have to invest in transit infrastructure.
We deserve infrastructure supporting the prosperous, diversified economy we aspire to build. This November, let’s elect leaders who prioritize our well-being and ensure we stop wasting time and money on our highways.
I’m typically pretty wordy. But just watch the video.
Disclaimer: Matt Addington is a professional. These bears grazed toward him from 100 yards away while he held tight. Do not try this ever, under any circumstances, or you will likely spend the rest of your time on this earth as bear poop.
Matt Addington is an incredible professional photographer, and I can say that from personal experience. He’s captured images of me in rough shape and somehow made them stunnin’. The Minnesota-based photographer and filmmaker has built a career telling outdoor stories, and his latest bear video proves he knows exactly where to point a camera.
Places like Katmai National Park in Alaska (where this video was taken) can offer unusually close encounters with brown bears, thanks in part to abundant food and tightly managed visitor access. That doesn’t make encounters like this casual or safe to imitate.
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Addington is an extremely experienced outdoorsman, and he was photographing with professional guides Scott and Jackie Stone. For people hoping to photograph bears this way, a guided wildlife photography tour is one of the safest ways to do it. Do not try this in Yellowstone or your local national forest.
The bears were grazing nearly 100 yards away when the group set up. They stayed put as the animals continued feeding and gradually moved closer, resulting in some incredible footage and a once-in-a-lifetime photo.
I can only hope he wore his brown pants under his waders.
A black bear was caught on camera seemingly running errands at a local shopping mall in Anchorage, Alaska over the weekend.
A black bear in Alaska strolled through the automatic doors of the commissary mall on the military base on Sunday. Kory Godbout
The bear entered the commissary mall at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson around 9 a.m. Sunday, KTUU reported, citing a JBER spokesperson.
Wild footage shows the young cub strolling through the commissary’s automatic doors and exploring all that the mall had to offer.
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Barber shop employee, Kory Godbout, saw the black bear approach his store and ran to the break room. Joint Base Elmendorf Exchange
The hungry bear stole and ate a piece of fruit before emptying its bowels on the hallway floor on its way out of the building.
Kory Godbout, who works at the barber shop on the military base, was waiting for his first customer of the day when he spotted the furry intruder traveling through the automatic doors.
“My coworker, who is cutting hair in front of me, she yelled, ‘Bear!’” Godbout recalled.
The grizzly bear decided to “use the restroom in the hallway” of the shopping mall. Kory Godbout
“And I looked up from my phone and the bear was walking into the barber shop right in front of me,” the barber said. “And we all ran into the break room and shut the door behind us.”
After a few minutes, Godbout and his coworkers emerged from the break room and followed the out-of-place bear into the commissary, where it took a peach from the grocery store and ate it.
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The barber recalled that a few onlookers were “going big to try and scare” the bear out of the grocery store.
The bear cub stole a peach and ate it while exploring all that the commissary had to offer. Joint Base Elmendorf Exchange
But all of a sudden, the black bear returned to the barber shop.
“By that time, we were able to run back to the shop and then lock the door,” Godbout said.
The bear cleared its bowels on the floor before leaving the shopping mall. Facebook
“And then we were watching him from the window and then that’s when he decided to, you know, use the restroom in the hallway.”
Officers from Conservation Law Enforcement attended the peculiar grizzly scene and were able to direct the wild animal towards a river and into the woods, according to the JBER spokesperson.
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JBER’s wildlife program manager Colette Brandt said in a press release that the bear had triggered the automatic doors and that Sunday’s events were entirely incidental, KTUU reported.
While there has been a decline in bear-related calls since the military base installed bear-resistant dumpsters, seven bears have been put down at JBER for public safety over the past year.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The southbound lanes of the Glenn Highway were closed Thursday morning near the S-curves due to a fatal crash, according to the Anchorage Police Department.
Police confirmed shortly after 11 a.m. that at least one person was dead. As of 12:45 p.m., one southbound lane is now open to traffic.
The southbound lanes of the Glenn Highway were closed July 9, 2026 near the S-curves due to a fatal crash, according to the Anchorage Police Department.(Alaska’s News Source)
An Alaska’s News Source reporter on the scene said the crash took place near the Eagle River Loop Road. Video from the scene shows multiple vehicles took damage in the incident.
This is a developing story. It has been updated with new information.
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