Butte residents want to share the road

A Spectrum, by Larry Wood

Rep. Ogan sent a letter dated July 3, 2002, to those 750 of us out here on the Butte side of the Matanuska River in what is now House District 16 who had signed a petition regarding the need to do something about the Old Glenn Highway between the Matanuska Bridge and the Parks Highway. It has been, I believe, 22 years since any major work has been done on our section of the roadway. Yet, traffic increases daily. No less than three times in my memory has funding for improvements been allocated to this end, but never used for the purpose. The last time this issue was discussed in my presence was during the 1998 election before the Butte Community Council when it was stated by Rep. Ogan and affirmed by the community council chair that the roadway was due for resurfacing in 2001.

Why do I remember this exchange? I was there. I was running against Mr. Ogan at the time. You see, I grew up on this side of the Matanuska and am all too aware of the short shrift that is our lot over here. I have resented this situation for years. There have been several roads in Wasilla and north of there that have been paved with wide shoulders, with lower population density than exists out here. Yet, we here get nothing.

Last I heard, the paving of the Old Glenn was again rescheduled to 2006. Now, Rep. Ogan has successfully managed to get the project funded (again!). Or, has he?

This letter is a lesson in just how far down we have fallen in the minds of our politicians that we can be so underestimated in our command of the English language.

I quote: "Thank you for signing a petition last year expressing your support for the upgrade and paving of the Old Glenn Highway. You and about 150 other concerned citizens sent a loud and clear message to your elected representatives. Because of your efforts, we were successful in funding $13,225,000 for improvements to the Old Glenn Highway. This project was my highest priority for this last session.

"For further information on the details of the scope of the work, timing of when construction will begin and any input you may have for your elected officials and the Dept. of Transportation, please plan to attend a special meeting Wednesday, July 10, at the Alaska Raceway Park clubhouse at 7 p.m."

I interpret the quoted text to mean that Rep. Ogan had gotten the project funded in the Capital Budget. That the money was "real." Then, I read on. The third paragraph was the most telling:

"I wish to thank the entire Valley delegation for their support of this important project. Rep. Vic Kohring was especially helpful as the House Transportation Committee Chairman in keeping the Old Glenn on the front burner with the Dept. of Transportation. Sen. Lyda Green was instrumental in getting the language put into the General Obligation Bond bill that will finance the project. The funding is subject to approval by the voters for that bond package. Please remember to vote to ensure that this important project is approved."

Please re-read the last two sentences of the above. You will note that the project, has now gone from "funded" to simply included in a general obligation bond; a bond which must be approved by the voters statewide. This was Rep. Ogan's "highest priority," the best he could do for us? Get this project in a state-wide bond proposition? Oh, he did not even do that. Sen. Green did that.

So, who's going to ensure the appropriation, if passed by the voters, will actually be used for the purpose advertised? Given that this is the most overfunded roadway in Alaska, in light of the previous appropriations that have mysteriously "disappeared" over the years. Ogan certainly has not bothered to date. The last appropriation obviously died on his watch.

Just what is the purpose of the July 10 meeting with "our elected officials" and DOT officials? There is no project. Not until the general obligation bond passes, and then, only if the new governor does not decide the money will be used elsewhere. It will take someone who's actually interested in seeing the project through to ensure that whatever improvements are entailed in the proposed funding actually happen. Remember, folks, to my recollection over the years, Ogan's representation will make funding No. 4 for improvements to the Old Glenn on our side of the river.

Larry Wood is a Palmer resident.