PROPOSED EXTENSION OF COASTAL TRAIL OUTLINED
Costs and Impacted Properties Lowered in draft final EIS

The latest route for the southern extension of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail would be significantly less costly, reduce impacts on private property and lessen habitat issues, Mayor Mark Begich said today in releasing a preferred alternative route.

Due to the significant public interest in extension of the trail, the mayor and the Federal Highways Administration agreed to an unprecedented public release of the preferred alternative route today with some of the cost, construction, and timing information prior to the actual formal public comment period, which begins in November. The plan includes significant changes based on more than 2,500 public comments.

“The public asked that we find ways to lower the construction costs, reduce the impacts to private property owners, and provide better connections to schools, parks, and trails,” Begich said. “We’ve done all of that and much more.”

The draft final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be released to state and federal agencies next week showing a significantly lower cost, fewer impacts to property owners, lower wetland impacts, and an overall improved trail.

Following Mayor Begich’s election in July 2003, the Municipality of Anchorage took control of the environmental planning process from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. In December 2003, Mayor Begich secured a $450,000 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation to fund completion of the stalled EIS for the South Extension, which runs 13.8 miles with connections to existing trails, parks and schools.

Some of the significant changes in the draft final EIS include:
• Reduced construction costs from $36 million to $23.7 million
• Property impacts reduced from 179 to 121
• # of vacant properties: 27
• Reduce habitat issues by running 60% coastal rather than 80%
• # of properties that trail easement needs less than 15% of lot: 60
• # of properties that trail easement needs less than 0.2 acre: 76
• All properties will be purchased at fair market value

Begich emphasized that the construction of the South Extension would be done in nine phases over 10-plus years.

As part of the public education component, the municipality will host three open houses at Klatt Elementary School next week. On Sept. 6, 7 and 8 from 7 to 9 pm, the public is invited to hear details of the new preferred alternative route. After a short presentation, there will be time at each meeting to view the maps and informally discuss the route with the project team. Formal public comment will be taken as part of the EIS process in December.

The original 11.2 miles of the Coastal Trail were constructed in the 1980s. The trail is listed as a priority in the 1997 Areawide Trails Plan, and the EIS process for the extension was started that year. After the draft final EIS goes to the state and federal resource management and permitting agencies next week, it goes to the public in late November; a public hearing is scheduled in December; and the Federal Highways Administration is expected to issue a final decision in February 2006.

Maps of the new preferred alternative route:
Kincaid Loop  2.5mb pdf
Bayshore Loop  3mb pdf
Oceanview  2.5mb pdf
Seward Highway  1.75mb pdf

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