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 i Interior Alaska Transportation Plan November 2010 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 iii Interior Alaska Transportation Plan November 2010 Table 3-14 2010-2013 STIP Dalton