Anchorage, Mat-Su assemblies talk commuter rail, bridge

PALMER — Though topics of conversation varied, Friday’s joint meeting of the Anchorage and Mat-Su Borough assemblies seemed to revolve around a common theme: connection.

Chief among those connections are transportation links.

Mat-Su Borough assemblyman Jim Sykes came armed with information about a pitch the Alaska Railroad’s board of directors is set to hear about commuter rail.

“They really seem seriously interested at a level that I haven’t seen for the past 25 years,” Sykes said.

He outlined the plan for a route running from the old Kenai Supply building across from Wasilla Lake to the railroad’s Ship Creek terminal with perhaps a stop in the Fairview area.

The idea got only favorable comments from Anchorage and Mat-Su officials. Anchorage assemblyman Paul Honeman noted that on days when ice turns the Glenn Highway into a parking lot, the railroad seems to keep running.

Mat-Su Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss joked with Anchorage assemblywoman Amy Demboski, who earlier in the meeting,had volunteered to serve on a joint Anchorage/Mat-Su transportation committee.

“I’m surprised Chugiak isn’t asking for a stop in Birchwood. There’s a train house there, isn’t there?” DeVilbiss said.

“Mr. Mayor — I’m on the committee,” Demboski retorted.

One spot where it seemed there was less agreement was on the Knik Arm crossing. There weren’t any overt negative sentiments from Mat-Su — that body has consistently supported the bridge project — but Anchorage was a different story.

Anchorage assemblyman Tim Steele said that the bridge shouldn’t dump traffic into downtown Anchroage, but should fit into the plan to link the Seward and Glenn highways. He also wants to see tidal power exploited on the span.

“It’s not going to help us economically in terms of property taxes,” he said. “I don’t see the upside for Anchorage.”

Honeman worried about disruption to the Government Hill neighborhood a bridge may cause.

Demboski was more optimistic, saying that the bridge would open up affordable land for Anchorage residents.

Among the pro-bridge sentiments were comments from Mat-Su assemblyman Steve Colligan, who said he sees the project as a means to avoid costs for traffic calming elsewhere in the Mat-Su Borough.

DeVilbiss pointed out that the borough’s growth recently and for the foreseeable future will be in areas north and west of Wasilla. With just the Parks Highway to serve those commuters, Wasilla is a chokepoint.

Without a bridge, DeVilbiss said, “From this day forward any growth in traffic is just going to put the squeeze on Wasilla.”

Another type of connection the two assemblies discussed was economic connection. The assemblies invited representatives from the Anchorage Economic Development Corp. to give an overview of its operation. The Mat-Su Borough is considering spinning off its Economic Development Department into a corporation.

Bill Popp, AEDC president, said that just 18 percent of the corporation’s funds come from the municipality.

“We’re at about a 4-to-1 match right now,” he said.

He said his work includes trying to attract businesses to Anchorage, but more so it encourages businesses to stay and expand. Sykes invited Popp back for the borough’s discussion about a new corporation.

“We’re always more than happy to help our friends in the Valley,” Popp said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at 352-2270 or andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.