Mat-Su has its wish-list ready for new Legislature

The outcome of state legislative elections will mostly be known late Tuesday, Nov. 8. Matanuska-Susitna Borough officials are meanwhile ready with the borough’s requests for the 2023 legislative session, which begins Tuesday, Jan. 17.

The borough assembly approved the list at its Oct. 18 meeting.

State-led road projects, not surprisingly, topped the list, but there were proposals that were not transportation related.

One unusual one is for an option for a state corporation income tax holiday for economic development and business projects at the Mat-Su Borough’s Port MacKenzie. The borough itself will consider local tax and tariff incentives but would like the option to offer a state corporate tax holiday, with 15 years suggested, as an inducement for business at the port.

Local property tax incentives are common and in the past the state has offered oil production tax and royalty reductions as incentives, but this would be the first proposal for adjusting the state corporation income tax. Legislation would be needed for such an incentive.

Another proposal, made in the current Legislature but not passed, is a health care cost transparency proposal involving a state “all-claims” health cost data base. All health care costs paid to health care providers, whether by governments, as in Medicaid, or private insurers, would be reported in the database, but in the aggregate to protect confidentiality.

The public would have access to the data but it would be mainly used by health care managers, public and private, as well as public officials, in spotting trends in costs for specific procedures.

Several states have these, so such a data base in Alaska would also be useful in comparing costs of care with similar costs in Lower 48 states.

One unusual transport-related legislative proposal is for legislation that would give the borough flexibility in using the borough-owned right-of-way and embankment built for a rail link to Port MacKenzie.

This project is delayed but the borough would like for alternative uses to be allowed other than for rail, such as for a road. State grants to support the project are specific to rail, however, so legislation is needed to allow other uses.

Mat-Su’s list is also heavy with conventional road projects.

Included is the Seward Meridian Parkway Extension North Phase 2, from the Palmer-Wasilla Highway to Seldon Road, a $57 million project, and continued reconstruction of the Knik-Goose Bay Road Fairview Loop to Vine Road, at $50 million.

Almost $33 million is being requested to continue work on four community roads: Hemmer Road extension and upgrade to Bogard Road; Hermon Road extension and upgrade to the Palmer-Wasilla Highway; Seldon Road extension Phase II from Windy Bottom to Pittman Road, and Trunk Road extension south, Phase III, including the Wasilla Creek bridge.

The borough is also supporting continued work on the Glenn Highway Mile 34 to 41, expanding this to four lanes with shoulders and a separated pathway. Right-of-way acquisition is already under way, and construction is expected 2023. This is estimated at $45 million.

Another proposal is for Fairview Loop rehabilitation, at $54.3 million, to include safety improvements, widening of shoulders and a separated pathway. Construction in expected in 2024.

Several highway safety enhancements are also supported, at a $41.8 million cost. These include roundabouts on Bogard Road, Engstrom Road and Green Forest Drive; a flashing beacon at the Church Road and Spruce Island intersection; a roundabout at Palmer-Fishhook Road and Trunk Road; Pittman Road shoulder widening and slope flattening; Vine Road and Hollywood Road intersection improvements and a roundabout at Wasilla-Fishhook Road, Spruce Avenue and Peck Road.

The borough is also supporting a new state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities maintenance station in the core Mat-Su community area, at Mile 3 of the Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Beyond traditional construction and reconstruction of streets and roads the borough is voicing continued support for Susitna Access project, a new road that will open access to 200,000 acres between the Little Susitna and (big) Susitna Rivers and in the long run open access to six million acres west of the Susitna River.

This project is now being led by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, the state development corporation, but support by the Mat-Su Borough for the project is important.

The borough is also restating its support, first voiced in May, 2021, for the Alaska “Long Trail” a series of linked multi-use trails that would eventually connect Seward to Anchorage, a distance of 500 miles.

The project, planned to be built in increments, is being led by a coalition of recreation groups. It would become a major attraction for visitors to the state.