Stevens wavers in ferry support

MAT-SU -- When U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens announced on Jan. 9 his intent to forgo support of a ferry crossing the Knik Arm and instead support the Knik Arm Bridge crossing, it caused a bit of a stir at the Mat-Su Borough.

"We had $11 million on hand," Borough Manager John Duffy said, speaking of three federal grants the borough has accumulated that would help fund the necessary design and construction of ferry terminals at Point MacKenzie and in Anchorage. Hanging in the balance still is a $5 million appropriation through the U.S. Senate transportation funding bill that would provide more funding for ferry transport across the Knik Arm.

By Friday, Jan. 10, Duffy was on a plane to Washington D.C. to find out why Sen. Stevens, after years of supporting the ferry project and appropriating money toward its completion, had decided to instead back only the Knik Arm Bridge project.

Melanie Alvord, speaking from Stevens' Washington D.C. press office, said when Stevens was in Anchorage during the holidays, he spoke with a few people who told him running a ferry across the thick ice of the Arm was next to impossible.

"No one could really tell him there would be ferries that would work," Alvord said.

That's where Duffy came in. The borough assembly, at its Jan. 7 meeting, authorized Duffy to work with Lockheed Martin Marine Systems and Pacific Marine/NAVATEK Ltd. to develop a specialized ferry system for the Upper Cook Inlet. Lockheed-Martin, Duffy said, has plans for a ferry that will easily handle the ice and tide levels in the Arm. To that end, Lewis Madden of Lockheed-Martin attended some of the meetings with Duffy to provide technical information about how such a ferry would work.

Duffy said through meetings with Rep. Don Young and staff from Sens. Stevens' and Lisa Murkowski's office, he was able to explain the borough's dilemma -- and understand part of the reason Stevens changed his line of support to assist Young.

"We understand Congressman Young's concern that opposition to the bridge might use the ferry as a reason to rally against [the need for a bridge]," Duffy said. "On the other hand, in order for us to fully develop Port MacKenzie, we need to have a transportation link. We informed them about the need to be able to provide some type of transportation between now and when the bridge is open."

Duffy explained that, in his view, with Young and Stevens and Murkowski situated in key funding positions in D.C., the likelihood of development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is closer than ever before. If ANWR were to be developed, he believes Port MacKenzie may be home to a fabrication facility that would support ANWR production, making a transportation link even more necessary.

"We'd need a way to get workers to and fro," Duffy said. "How do we function in that period of time between now and when the bridge is constructed in 2010 or 2015?"

Duffy said Stevens' withdrawal of support left several questions open -- did the borough still have access to the $11 million set aside for the ferry? Was the $5 million currently in the transportation bill for additional ferry funding still available? Although some of those questions won't be answered until it's clear whether the $5 million is appropriated -- an answer is expected next month -- Duffy said staff were able to give some direction.

"We've been told to just go forward," Duffy said. The borough will proceed on getting an environmental assessment completed for the ferry landings and complete the ferry terminus until told otherwise, Duffy said.