Murkowski Announces Over $57 Million in Additional Infrastructure Funding for Alaskan Communities | U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

08.13.22

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) as we speak introduced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the usDepartment of Transportation (DOT) are awarding over $57.1 million in grants for infrastructure upgrades and growth throughout Alaska. The grants are for highway development, dock and repair middle development, and buses and bus amenities.

The entities benefiting from these new awards, that are being made beneath the bipartisan Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act of 2021, embody the Gulkana Village Council, Metropolis and Borough of Juneau, Metlakatla Indian Group, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Metropolis and Borough of Sitka, Bristol Bay Native Affiliation, and Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

“The excellent news from our bipartisan infrastructure legislation continues. This newest spherical of grants will assist Alaskans with highway development, facility development and upgrades, and cleaner buses for public transportation,” Senator Murkowski mentioned. “The communities that obtain these grants will profit from higher transportation, much less air pollution, and decrease prices for his or her residents. I thank each FTA and DOT for contemplating Alaskans’ functions, and stay up for continued help for extra communities within the years forward.”

“As Alaska’s communities change and develop, the necessity for inexpensive public transportation will even proceed to extend,” mentioned Alaska Division of Transportation & Public Services Commissioner Ryan Anderson. “Transit has develop into a larger necessity in all of our communities, massive and small. We’re actually happy to see these transit grants unfold all through the state’s transportation community.”

“Sitka want to lengthen a honest because of Senator Lisa Murkowski for her assist of Sitka’s working waterfront, and the help with our profitable elevate grant software. This grant insures the continued operation of our neighborhood chilly storage. Sitka’s economic system is held up by industrial fisherman, and we respect the power to put money into them,” mentioned Sitka Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz.

“The Hovering Eagle Transit (SET) Multi-Function Operations and Upkeep facility would be the first and solely upkeep facility for the transit. It’ll present heated, dry house for COVID preventive measures, a warming shelter for patrons, administrative and operations places of work, and three upkeep bays. Since 2015 Hovering Eagle Transit automobile repairs has been carried out outdoors the village corridor parking zone. Located within the inside of Alaska, SET should function automobiles half the 12 months within the winter months.  These colder temperatures 0—42 levels trigger steady issues with the transit automobiles by way of efficiency. The upkeep facility will permit SET to lengthen the lifetime of the fleet and proceed to supply secure and dependable service to the residents and vacationer of the Copper Valley. The Gulkana Village Employees want to thank the Federal Transit Authority, Bus to Bus Services program and Senator Murkowski for the assist that permits SET to be chosen as a 2022 grant recipient,” mentioned Gulkana Village Council Tribal President Eileen Ewan.

“Metlakatla Indian Group want to thank the Federal Transit Authority for awarding our undertaking 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 general technique to cut back transportation prices and scale back air air pollution in Southeast Alaska. The purpose is to get rid of pointless vehicle journeys and scale back auto emissions considerably. It’ll present transport companies to the neighborhood and complement our elder transport companies and people with out sufficient transportation. As well as, it should present power storage for our micro-grid when it isn’t in use lowering the price of transportation and power for the Metlakatla Indian Group. We once more thank Senator Murkowski and the federal authorities for this funding,” mentioned Metlakatla Indian Group Mayor Albert Smith.

“The Ketchikan Gateway Borough is extraordinarily excited that we have been chosen to obtain a FTA grant to impress our buses. This, mixed with our renewable hydropower, will permit our transit division to supply quiet, exhaust free public transportation for years to come back.   A win for the setting and our neighborhood. Our heartfelt appreciation to Senator Murkowski for her efforts in securing this grant for the neighborhood,” mentioned Ketchikan Borough Mayor Rodney Dial.

“Thanks to Senator Murkowski for all her efforts main the infrastructure package deal and guaranteeing that Alaskans wants could be addressed. This grant for low emissions busses will assist the Fairbanks North Star Borough enhance our public transit choices in a clear and environment friendly method,” mentioned Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Bryce Ward. 

Grants from the Federal Transit Administration’s Buses and Bus Services Program and Low or No Emission Car Program embody:

• Gulkana Village Council – Over $4.2 million for Hovering Eagle Transit’s (SET) multi-purpose operations and upkeep facility.
• Metropolis and Borough of Juneau – Over $2.2 million for Capital Transit for upkeep facility rehabilitation and safety modernization.
• Metlakatla Indian Group – $402,257 for battery electrical bus service to the Metlakatla Municipal Constructing and Annette Islands ferry terminal.
• Ketchikan Gateway Borough – Over $4 million to assist the usage of hydropower and transitioning to electrical buses and charging infrastructure in Ketchikan.
• Fairbanks North Star Borough – Over $2.4 million for FNSB compressed pure gasoline buses and compressed pure gasoline paratransit vans.

Grants from via the U.S. Division of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Fairness (RAISE) program embody:

• Metropolis and Borough of Sitka – Over $7.8 million to fund design and development of Sitka’s Marine Service Heart.
• Bristol Bay Native Affiliation – Over $13.2 million to assist assemble 4.3 miles of gravel highway connecting two communities.
• Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska – Over $22.3 million to fund development of a brand new dock, container storage yard, and related utilities.