ANCHORAGE – Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS) in partnership with Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities and the Municipality of Anchorage announced the award of $3.5 million dollars for transportation alternative projects for Anchorage. These projects will be funded by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) dollars through the Transportation Alternative Program, which supports local transportation safety and recreation enhancements.
“These seven TAP projects make Anchorage safer for seniors, kids, bikers, runners, walkers, and drivers and improve our world class trails system,” stated Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.
The recommended project nominations and estimated funding timelines are as follows:
1. Vision Zero: A community initiative designed to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries, with a strong focus on informed decision-making and safe multi-modal transportation and will also include updates to the Anchorage Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails plans. (Municipal Office of Economic & Community Development, $912,000 – 2016)
2. Multi-Modal volume counters: Project will purchase multi-modal counters and provide reporting capabilities with the goal of assessing areas in regards to non-motorized traffic volumes and patterns including seasonal use of bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized forms of transportation. (Municipal Traffic Department, $379,200 – 2016)
3. ASD Bike Share Education Trailers: Project will purchase 4 bicycle fleets and transportation trailers for a bicycle sharing education program used by the Anchorage School District (ASD) Physical Education Department to instruct studies in grades 5-12 on bicycle safety, rider skills and encourage the use of bicycles as transportation. (Anchorage School District, $136,048 – 2016)
4. Westchester Lagoon Nature Trail Rehab: Project will rehabilitate the existing Westchester Lagoon pathway between Spenard Road and Arctic Boulevard. Will include trailhead and parking lot replacement. (Municipal Parks Department, $261,000 – 2017)
5. Chugach Foothills Connector, Phase II: Project will construct a multi-use path between Regal Mountain Drive and Campbell Airstrip Road near the curve on Tudor Road. (Municipal Parks Department, $523,688 – 2017)
6. Fish Creek Trail Rehab: Project will rehabilitate the Fish Creek trail from Kiwanis Fish Creek Park to Barbara Street. (Municipal Project Management & Engineering Department, $900,000 – 2017)
7. Mountain View Drive Pathway: Project will reconstruct a multi-use pathway between Bliss Street and North Bunn Street on Mountain View Drive. (Municipal Project Management & Engineering Department, $430,000 – 2017)
MAP-21 created the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to replace former funding programs such as Safe Routes to School, Recreational Trails Program and Transportation Enhancements. MAP-21 apportioned funding distributions to urban areas with a population greater than 200,000 to direct to non-motorized type projects through a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
MAP-21 requires MPOs to use a competitive project selection process for TAP funds. FHWA is responsible for reviewing MPO processes and ensuring they comply with MAP-21. FHWA also requires use of a public review process prior to finalizing its TAP projects selection methodology.
A 30 day call for nominations occurred from February 11 – March 14, 2016 with 9 projects being submitted. AMATS staff checked all nominated projects for eligibility and then scored and ranked the eligible projects based on 6 criteria with a possible high score of 78 points.
For more information, contact Myer Hutchinson at (907) 343-7133.
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