Murkowski announces over $57 million in additional infrastructure funding for Alaska communities

Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) – The Federal Transit Administration and the U.S Division of Transportation is awarding over $57.1 million in grants for infrastructure developments throughout Alaska.

U.S Senator Lisa Murkowski made the announcement on Saturday.

The grants are for street building, dock and repair heart building, cleaner buses and electrical buses, and bus services.

The awards are being made below the bipartisan Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act of 2021 and can profit Gulkana Village Council, Metropolis and Borough of Juneau, Metlakatla Indian Neighborhood, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Metropolis and Borough of Sitka, Bristol Bay Native Affiliation, and Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

The Metropolis and Borough of Juneau will obtain over $2.2 million for Capital Transit for upkeep facility rehabilitation and safety modernization.

The Metropolis and Borough of Sitka will obtain over $7.8 million to fund the design and building of Sitka’s Marine Service Heart.

Sitka Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz thanked Senator Murkowski for her help of Sitka’s working waterfront and her help with their increase grant software that ensures the operation of group chilly storage for industrial fishermen.

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough was awarded over $4 million to help using hydropower and transition to electrical buses.

The Ketchikan Borough Mayor, Rodney Dial, expressed his pleasure to make use of their FTA grant.

“This, mixed with our renewable hydropower, will permit our transit division to offer quiet, exhaust-free public transportation for years to return. A win for the surroundings and our group. Our heartfelt appreciation to Senator Murkowski for her efforts in securing this grant for the group” mentioned Ketchikan Borough Mayor Rodney Dial.

Metlakatla Indian Neighborhood will obtain $402,257 in direction of battery electrical bus service to the Metlakatla Municipal Constructing and Annette Islands ferry terminal.

Metlakatla Indian Neighborhood Mayor Albert Smith gave an announcement regarding the funding.

“Metlakatla Indian Neighborhood want to thank the Federal Transit Authority for awarding our venture the Metlakatla Municipal Constructing-Annette Islands Ferry Terminal Battery Electrical Bus Service within the quantity of $402,257. This grant is a part of our total technique to scale back transportation prices and cut back air air pollution in Southeast Alaska. The purpose is to eradicate pointless vehicle journeys and cut back auto emissions considerably. It should present transport companies to the group and complement our elder transport companies and people with out satisfactory transportation. As well as, it is going to present power storage for our micro-grid when it’s not in use decreasing the price of transportation and power for the Metlakatla Indian Neighborhood. We once more thank Senator Murkowski and the federal authorities for this funding,” mentioned Metlakatla Indian Neighborhood Mayor Albert Smith.