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SAFETEA-LU

 

During his 34 years in office, Congressman Young has always fought to help Alaska Natives become self sufficient by developing infrastructure and access as a means to nurture economic development.  He has been successful in his efforts.  The SAFETEA-LU highway law has been vital in developing infrastructure in villages throughout Alaska and Rep. Young is proud of this law.  Not enough positive stories have come from this legislation - the largest highway reauthorization ever passed by Congress which contained thousands of essential projects for communities throughout this country and dozens of projects for our great state.  Specific projects that will benefit rural and native communities include:

 

·        Unalaska: Construction of AMHW ferry terminal including approach, staging, and upland improvements

·        Coffman Cove: IFA ferry terminal or IFA vessel debt repayment for MV Prince of Wales Ferry

·        Kodiak: Construction of AMHW ferry terminal including approach, staging, and upland improvements

·        Construct access road and a bridge crossing the Naknek River terminus points in South Naknek-King Salmon Highway

·        Craig: Craig Community Association, Point St. Nicholas Road improvements.

·        Cordova: Native Village of Eyak, Shepard’s Point Road improvements

·        Hydaburg: Hydaburg Community Association, Hydaburg community street improvements

·        Healy Lake: Healy Lake Traditional, Cummings Road improvements

·        False Pass: Causeway and road

·        Akutan: Airport road

·        Williamsport-Pile Bay Road improvements

 

 

Denali Access System Program

 

In early versions of SAFETEA-LU, Rep. Young included a section called the Alaska Native Village Transportation Program that would be administered by the Secretary of Transportation and the Denali Commission, in coordination with the Alaska Federation of Natives.  Congressman Young saw the obstacles that Alaskan villages faced in securing funding for their transportation projects.  Too often they were overlooked by the state, where funds are directed according to population and miles traveled.  Representatives of the villages needed to be involved in discussions where funds would be directed.

 

The Alaska Native Village Transportation Program later became known as the Denali Access System Program and is overseen by members representing regional Native Corporations, native nonprofit entities, or tribal governments.  Congressman Young provided $60 million to fund this program for four years.  There are still two years and roughly $30 million left until the program expires in the end of 2009 and so far, this program has been a major success!  It is another example of Alaska Natives coming together and developing projects for their communities.

 

Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)

 

After several years of unsuccessful attempts to pass the Water Resources Development Act, the WRDA Conference Report has passed out of the House and Senate and is awaiting the President’s signature.  The following projects are authorized in WRDA and were secured by Congressman Don Young:

                  Â·        Haines navigation project

·        Port of Anchorage transitional dredging

·        Nelson Lagoon shoreline protection

·        King Cove Harbor

·        Sitka Harbor breakwater

·        Tatitlek navigation project

·        Port Lions navigation project

·        Black Lake erosion project

·        Knik Arm, Cook Inlet bridge impact study

·        Kuskokwim River feasibility study

·        St. George Harbor feasibility study

·        Susitna River feasibility study for hydropower project

·        Barrow coastal erosion and storm damage prevention project

·        Coffman Cove navigation project

·        Fire Island barge facility

·        Fort Yukon dike repairs

·        Kotzebue Harbor navigation project

·        Lowell Creek Tunnel repair in Seward

·        St. Herman and St. Paul Harbors emergency material removal

·        Tanana River material removal at mouth of Chena River

·        Valdez small boat harbor construction

·        Whittier construction of new boat harbor and expansion of existing harbor if feasible

·        Wrangell Harbor dredging and construction of inner harbor facilities