Coal again in Valley'€™s stocking

MAT-SU — The $1.5 billion for capital projects proposed by the governor in his fiscal year 2011 draft budget leaves many local projects empty handed.

Ignored are the road bonds Mat-Su voters approved in 2008, the rail extension to Port MacKenzie and the Knik Arm Bridge, as well as other big- ticket items local officials were hoping to see funded.

“I was really upset because the Port of Anchorage got $10 million, and there is nothing for Port MacKenzie,” State Sen. Linda Menard said. “We have the deep draft dock. That’s what companies want.”

Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy said he was happy to see some federal aid money passed through the state to the borough, but he said he is disappointed there is no big project for the Valley.

“Especially since you have two other major projects out there: $75 million for the crime lab in Anchorage and $108 million for a science center at (University of Alaska Fairbanks),” Duffy said. “We were hoping the Mat-Su would get consideration on a major project.”

Capital expenditures for Valley-specific projects in the draft budget include more than $2.5 million for water main and sewer upgrades in Palmer and another $1.8 million for the city to extend utility service.

On the Glenn Highway, $12 million would go to put lights from Birchwood to the Palmer Hayflats and $3 million would be spent on resurfacing from Mile 34 to 42. The Parks Highway would receive $7 million for resurfacing from Lucas Road to Big Lake Road.

There is also $6 million in the draft budget for “off-system” bridges in the Mat-Su. Duffy said these are bridges not on the national highway system, so essentially any bridge in the Valley not on the Parks or Glenn highways. Duffy said the borough has identified 13 such bridges that need work.

“I was happy to see some infrastructure projects,” Sen. Menard said. “Like the ($546,480) going to close Cell 2 at the landfill.”

However, Menard said her three priorities — money for the Palmer Senior Center, the ferry landings and the road bonds — were not there.

The road bonds are particularly disappointing, as the voters have already said they will put up $15 million if the state throws in another $35 million. The bonds went unmatched last year.

“What’s very puzzling for me is we are the largest growing area of the state and we are getting beat up on our roads,” Menard said. “We definitely need this.”

However, both Menard and Duffy are hopeful the Mat-Su delegation will get more projects added to the budget when it goes through the legislature.

“We are still al long way before the legislature gets the chance to hammer out the capital budget,” Menard said. “I will fight to get these projects funded.”

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.