Butte patrols beefed up

May 18, 2007

By Hannah Guillaume/Frontiersman

BUTTE - After Alaska State Troopers committed five additional troopers to roadways in the Butte recently, residents say they are happy with the results.

For years, Butte residents requested that the Matanuska-Susitna Borough put additional law enforcement in the area to crack down on misbehavior in and around the Knik River Public Use Area. Troopers' current focus is on the Old Glenn Highway near the Knik River Bridge, where an effort is being made to educate users of the area about the prohibition of motorized vehicles on the pedestrian and biking pathway.

Last weekend, state troopers made 68 &#8220contacts,” issued 41 verbal warnings and 17 citations and made two arrests along areas of the pathway, according to trooper reports.

The pathway campaign is run on voluntary overtime. Funding comes from the &#8220B” Detachment, which includes the Mat-Su Valley and the Copper River Basin.

Cathy Hummel, a member of the Butte Area Residents Civic Organization and

11-year resident, said her family was pleased to see troopers educating visitors and residents about proper pathway use.

&#8220This weekend was a definite improvement,” Hummel said. &#8220There was virtually no speedway traffic in front of my house, in terms of dirt bikes and ATVs and dust, dust, dust. I didn't know what had happened. At first, I thought they were out of gas.”

If additional law enforcement continues to work the pathway during high school graduations and Memorial Day weekend, she said she will begin baking cookies for the overnight patrollers.

Brit Lively, a 40-year resident and co-founder of the Butte Area Residents Civic Organization, said the road and its shoulders are too narrow for pedestrian and bicycle use. The pathway was built in 1983 after two pedestrian deaths along the roadway.

&#8220They put the pathway in for the safety of pedestrians,” she said.

Megan Peters, spokeswoman for the Alaska State Troopers, said it isn't determined if the troopers' pathway campaign will be regular. She added that the campaign could continue through

summer.

&#8220It's something we want to do, but we only have so many hands on deck,” Peters said.

Last summer, trails and campgrounds across the borough accommodated 50,358 visitors, according to borough records.

Todd Clark, chair of the Southcentral advisory council for the Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance and vice president of the Alaska Outdoor Council, said his organizations are glad to see troopers upholding laws in the area.

&#8220I don't think that there's any bad feelings that those trails are not motorized. Where the ATV community is coming from, is that we

support the laws that exist,”

he said.

Clark said there are two reasons why people in the area break rules. For the most part, people aren't aware of the law or are trying to save time. He said beyond education from troopers, more signs would make a difference.

Creating a pathway along the roadways to accommodate ATV users the same way that the current pathway accommodates pedestrians and bicyclists would ultimately solve the problem, he said.

Kenny Barber, a founder of the Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance and 37-year resident, agreed with Clark and said equal rights for all users is the best solution.

&#8220I think there's room for both users. Create the same for both,” he said. &#8220I kind of think it should be legal for kids to ride there, as long as they're careful and take it easy. But if you're going fast or riding on driveways, then I'm against it.”

Barber said he'd like to

see speed limit signs and

a trail for ATV users put in

by the Department of

Transportation.

The pathway campaign is separate from the additional trooper campaign at the Knik River Public Use Area, which is also run using voluntary overtime and is funded by the Department of Natural Resources.

In May 2006, the Legislature approved $356,800 for the Kink Public Use Area's planning and management. That amount included contractual funds for additional law enforcement.

Spokeswoman Megan Peters said the start of last weekend's campaign along the highway stemmed from the additional management and education resources at the public-use area.

Contact Hannah Guillaume at 352-2250.