Interior Alaska Transportation Plan November 2010

Table of Contents

Abbreviations & Acronyms ...... ix

Preface...... 1

Executive Summary ...... 3

1 Introduction ...... 7

1.1 Plan Purpose ...... 7

1.2 Planning Factors ...... 8

1.3 Outline ...... 8

1.4 Study Boundaries ...... 9

1.5 Planning Process and Public Involvement ...... 11

1.6 Overview of Previous Planning Documents ...... 11

1.7 Planning Issues ...... 12

1.8 Goals and Objectives ...... 17

2 Background and Setting ...... 21

2.1 Regional Setting ...... 21

2.2 Communities ...... 21

2.3 History and Culture ...... 25

2.4 Economy...... 31

2.5 Environmental Overview ...... 31

3 Transportation Inventory ...... 43

3.1 Existing Highway System ...... 43

3.2 Existing Community Transportation System ...... 107

3.3 Existing Aviation System ...... 109

3.4 Existing Major Trail System ...... 143

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3.5 Existing Railroad System ...... 147

3.6 Existing River Transportation System ...... 154

4 Resource and Economic Development Impacts ...... 158

4.1 Mineral Industry ...... 158

4.2 Oil and Gas Industry ...... 164

4.3 Alternative Energy ...... 171

4.4 Timber Industry ...... 172

4.5 Agricultural Resources ...... 177

4.6 Tourism ...... 180

4.7 Commercial Fishing ...... 183

5 Forecast ...... 185

5.1 Introduction ...... 185

5.2 Population Projections...... 185

5.3 Highway Traffic Forecasts ...... 190

5.4 Aviation Forecasts ...... 197

6 Transportation Analysis ...... 213

6.1 Highway Transportation Analysis ...... 213

6.2 Community Transportation System Analysis ...... 248

6.3 Aviation Analysis ...... 249

6.4 Major Trail System Analysis ...... 278

6.5 Railroad System Analysis ...... 281

6.6 River Transportation System Analysis ...... 284

7 Transportation Financing ...... 287

7.1 Introduction ...... 287

ii Interior Alaska Transportation Plan November 2010

7.2 Highway System Financing ...... 287

7.3 Community Transportation System Financing ...... 292

7.4 Aviation System Financing ...... 298

7.5 Railroad System Financing ...... 306

8 Recommendations and Implementation ...... 309

8.1 Highway System Recommendations ...... 309

8.2 Community Transportation Recommendations ...... 317

8.3 Aviation System Recommendations ...... 318

8.4 Trail Recommendations ...... 325

8.5 Railroad Recommendations ...... 326

8.6 River Transportation System Recommendations ...... 326

Table 1-1 Goals and Objectives ...... 19 Table 2-1 Planning Area Community Information* ...... 23 Table 2-2 Regional Climate Information ...... 32 Table 3-1 Roadway Classification ...... 45 Table 3-2 Highway Truck Percentage ...... 48 Table 3-3 DOT&PF Statewide Average Crash Rates, 2005 ...... 51 Table 3-4 Roadway Segments Identified for Further Analysis ...... 51 Table 3-5 Alaska Scenic Byways ...... 55 Table 3-6 Restroom Facilities along Interior Alaska Highways ...... 56 Table 3-7 Highway Capital Project History, 1987-2007 ...... 60 Table 3-8 Denali Commission Projects in the Study Area ...... 62 Table 3-9 Bridge Inventory, Alaska Highway ...... 64 Table 3-10 2001-2005 Selected Crash Data on the Alaska Highway ...... 66 Table 3-11 2010-2013 STIP Alaska Highway Projects ...... 66 Table 3-12 Bridge Inventory, Dalton Highway ...... 69 Table 3-13 2001-2005 Selected Crash Data on the Dalton Highway ...... 71

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Table 3-14 2010-2013 STIP Dalton Highway Projects ...... 71 Table 3-15 Bridge Inventory, Denali Highway ...... 73 Table 3-16 2001-2005 Selected Crash Data on the Denali Highway ...... 74 Table 3-17 Bridge Inventory, Edgerton Highway/McCarthy Road...... 76 Table 3-18 Bridge Inventory Elliott Highway (NHS) ...... 79 Table 3-19 2001-2005 Selected Crash Data on the Elliott Highway ...... 80 Table 3-20 2010-2013 Elliott Highway Projects ...... 81 Table 3-21 Bridge Inventory, Glenn Highway ...... 83 Table 3-22 2010-2013 STIP Glenn Highway Projects ...... 84 Table 3-23 Bridge Inventory, Parks Highway ...... 86 Table 3-24 2001-2005 Selected Crash Data on the Parks Highway ...... 88 Table 3-25 2010-2013 STIP Parks Highway Projects ...... 89 Table 3-26 Bridge Inventory, Richardson Highway ...... 92 Table 3-27 2001-2005 Selected Crash Data on the Richardson Highway ...... 94 Table 3-28 Richardson Highway Rest Areas ...... 95 Table 3-29 2010-2013 STIP Richardson Highway Projects ...... 96 Table 3-30 Bridge Inventory, Steese Highway (AHS) ...... 97 Table 3-312001-2005 Selected Crash Data on the Steese Highway (AHS) ...... 99 Table 3-32 2010-2013 STIP Steese Highway Projects ...... 99 Table 3-33 Bridge Inventory, Taylor Highway ...... 101 Table 3-34 2001-2005 Selected Crash Data on the Taylor Highway ...... 102 Table 3-35 2010-2013 STIP Taylor Highway ...... 103 Table 3-36 Bridge Inventory, Tok Cut Off ...... 104 Table 3-37 2010-2013 STIP Tok Cutoff Highway Projects ...... 105 Table 3-38 Community Access Roads ...... 108 Table 3-39 Airports in the Upper Yukon Valley ...... 112 Table 3-40 Airports in the Tanana Valley ...... 114 Table 3-41 Airports in the Copper River Basin ...... 116 Table 3-42 Airports in the Susitna Valley ...... 117 Table 3-43 Airports in the Kuskokwim Valley...... 117 Table 3-44 Airports in the Koyukuk Valley ...... 118 Table 3-45 Alaska Aviation System Plan Classifications...... 120

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Table 3-46 Copper Basin and Upper Tanana Valley Regional Airport Plan Classification Recommendations ...... 121 Table 3-47 Navigational and Weather Aids...... 127 Table 3-48 Air Carriers Providing Scheduled Service in the Study Area ...... 128 Table 3-49 Scheduled Passenger Enplanements ...... 130 Table 3-50 Enplaned Passengers, Scheduled and Nonscheduled, 2000-2005 ...... 131 Table 3-51 Essential Air Service Airports ...... 133 Table 3-52 Cost of Maintaining Interior Airports...... 133 Table 3-53 History of Airport Improvement Program Projects ...... 137 Table 3-54 Planned Airport Improvements ...... 138 Table 3-55 Aviation Accident Location, 1987-2007 ...... 140 Table 3-56 Fatal Aviation Accidents, 1987-2007 ...... 140 Table 3-57 Interior Alaska Trail Segments ...... 145 Table 3-58 ARRC Passenger Ridership 2002-2006 ...... 150 Table 3-59 Potential Annual Barge Stops per Village ...... 155 Table 5-1. Study Area Population Projections by Census Area/Borough ...... 187 Table 5-2. Population Projections for Non-Road System Communities ...... 188 Table 5-3. Population Projections for Road System Communities ...... 189 Table 5-4 2030 Forecast Traffic Volumes ...... 194 Table 5-5 Truck Percentages (1999 – 2007) ...... 196 Table 5-6 Existing Aviation Forecasts from Other Plans ...... 200 Table 5-7 Terminal Area Forecast State and National Growth Rates ...... 201 Table 5-8 Enplaned Passengers in 2007 ...... 202 Table 5-9 Enplaned Passenger Forecasts ...... 203 Table 5-10 Air Cargo Activity in 2007 ...... 205 Table 5-11 Air Cargo Forecasts (pounds) ...... 207 Table 5-12 Based Aircraft in 2007...... 208 Table 5-13 Based Aircraft Forecast ...... 209 Table 6-1 Driver Behavior Strategies (SHSP 2007) ...... 216 Table 6-2 Highway Strategies (SHSP 2007) ...... 217 Table 6-3 Roadway Condition Concerns and Potential Treatments ...... 219 Table 6-4 Pavement Preservation Practices ...... 221 Table 6-5 Crash Summary Analysis (2001-2006), Alaska Highway ...... 227

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Table 6-6 Maintenance Project Needs, Alaska Highway* ...... 228 Table 6-7 Maintenance Project Needs, Dalton Highway* ...... 229 Table 6-8 Maintenance Project Needs, Denali Highway* ...... 231 Table 6-9 Maintenance Project Needs, Edgerton Highway* ...... 232 Table 6-10 Crash Summary Analysis (2001-2006), Elliott Highway...... 233 Table 6-11 Maintenance Project Needs, Elliott Highway* ...... 234 Table 6-12 Maintenance Project Needs, Glenn Highway* ...... 235 Table 6-13 Crash Summary Analysis (2001-2006), Parks Highway ...... 236 Table 6-14 Maintenance Project Needs, Parks Highway* ...... 240 Table 6-15 Crash Summary Analysis (2001-2006), Richardson Highway ...... 241 Table 6-16 Maintenance Project Needs, Richardson Highway* ...... 242 Table 6-17 Maintenance Project Needs, Steese Highway* ...... 244 Table 6-18 Maintenance Project Needs, Taylor Highway* ...... 245 Table 6-19 Maintenance Project Needs, Tok Cutoff Highway* ...... 247 Table 6-20 BIA Road Program Funds for Tribes within the Study Area ...... 248 Table 6-21 Airport Reference Code Components ...... 254 Table 6-22 Facility Objectives for Regional Airports ...... 257 Table 6-23 Facility Objectives for Community Airports ...... 259 Table 6-24. Summary of Needs for Upper Yukon Valley Airports ...... 273 Table 6-25 Summary of Needs for Tanana Valley Airports ...... 275 Table 6-26 Summary of Needs for Copper River Basin Airports ...... 276 Table 6-27 Summary of Needs for Susitna Valley Airports ...... 277 Table 6-28 Summary of Needs for Kuskokwim Valley Airports ...... 277 Table 6-29 Summary of Needs for Koyukuk Valley Airports ...... 278 Table 6-30 Trail Marking Project ...... 280 Table 7-1 Denali Commission Project List 2006-2009 ...... 295 Table 7-2 Historic AIP Funding (in $ millions)...... 300 Table 8-1 Recommended Highway Capital Improvements ...... 311 Table 8-2 Illustrative Projects ...... 313 Table 8-3 Priority Gas Line Projects ...... 313 Table 8-4 Other Highway System Recommendations ...... 314 Table 8-5 Short Term Highway Capital Improvements ...... 315 Table 8-6 Medium Term Highway Capital Improvements...... 316

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Table 8-7 Long Term Highway Capital Improvements ...... 317 Table 8-8 Community Transportation Project Recommendations (Short, Medium and Long Range Projects with costs) ...... 317 Table 8-9 FFY 2010 Transit Grants ...... 318 Table 8-10 Recommended Airport Capital Improvements ...... 320 Table 8-11 Other Aviation System Recommendations ...... 321 Table 8-12 Short-Term Airport Capital Improvements ...... 323 Table 8-13 Medium-Term Airport Capital Improvements ...... 324 Table 8-14 Long-Term Airport Capital Improvements ...... 325

Figure 1 Study Area ...... 10 Figure 2 General Land Ownership ...... 22 Figure 3 Regional Corporation Boundary Map ...... 30 Figure 4 Highway Systems ...... 44 Figure 5 Functional Classifications ...... 47 Figure 6 Annual Average Daily Traffic Volumes ...... 49 Figure 7 Public Toilets ...... 57 Figure 8 Public Use Airports ...... 110 Figure 9 Airports in the NPIAS ...... 119 Figure 10 Special Use Airspace ...... 125 Figure 11 Scheduled Air Service Route Map ...... 129 Figure 12 Trail, Rail, and River Networks ...... 146 Figure 13 Active mineral exploration in the study area ...... 163 Figure 14 Trans Canada and Exxon Mobil Proposed Alignment for the Alaska Pipeline ...... 170 Figure 15 Tanana Valley Forest Location Map ...... 174 Figure 16 Recommended Airport Classes ...... 253

Exhibit 3.1 Pavement Conditions, National Highway System ...... 58 Exhibit 3.2 Pavement Condition, Alaska Highway System ...... 59 Exhibit 3.3 Airport Ownership Distribution ...... 122 Exhibit 3.4 Accident History by Five-Year Increments ...... 141 Exhibit 3.5 Accidents by Month ...... 142

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Exhibit 3.6 Accidents by Type...... 142 Exhibit 7.1 Obligated Highway Funds - FFY 1999-2009...... 288 Exhibit 7.2 Obligated Highway Funds by Highway- FFY 1999-2009 ...... 289 Exhibit 7.3 BIA Total IRR Tribal Share Funds in Study Area 2005-2009...... 293 Exhibit 7.4 Denali Commission Historical Transportation Funding in Study Area ...... 295 Exhibit 8.1 2010-2013 STIP Average Annual NHS Breakdown by Millions in Study Area ...... 310

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