DOT&PF has kicked off an update of the Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan (SWATP). This federally-required plan outlines how the area's roads, airports and ferries work together as a transportation system, and - most importantly - prioritizes transportation improvement projects that provide the biggest bang for the public's buck. While previous Southwest transportation plans focused more on specific projects and local needs, this plan update is taking a regional transportation systems approach and will focus on regional issues and needs.

Transportation planning may seem bureaucratic and complex, but it is of vital importance to the region. In order for a transportation improvement project to qualify for some of the estimated $450 million dollars in available federal funding, it has to be listed in this or another appropriate plan (such as a local transportation or economic development plan). Given the status of the federal deficit, federal funding for transportation improvements is likely to drop by up to one-third beginning in 2013. This makes transportation planning even more vital. Requests for federal funding will need to be better supported, and every community will need to carefully evaluate where to spend the limited federal dollars. A solid regional transportation plan leverages available transportation funding to support basic access need, economic development, and community cohesion.

DOT&PF's project team is currently gathering data on the region's transportation system, transportation issues, and needs - and will be holding community meetings in Kodiak, Unalaska and King Salmon in mid- October to early November. Team members will also take advantage of other regional public forums, such as the Tribal Providers Conference, Tribal Transportation Forum, and SWAMC meetings. Our goal is to conduct our outreach and feedback opportunities around your busy seasonal schedules. Project information will be available online so that you can get the latest updates and provide us your thoughts whenever it is convenient for you - day or night. For those of you with limited internet access or who choose not to use it, we will also sending updates in the mail.

To develop a plan that best serves Southwest Alaska we need broad representation from Southwest Alaskans in the planning process. Pull up a chair! We are excited about working with you to develop a regional transportation plan that supports the area's future.

To participate please contact:

Joselyn Biloon, Project Manager

(907) 269-0508

Joselyn.biloon@alaska.gov

PO Box 196900, MS 2525

Anchorage, AK   99519-6900

Go to: www.swaktransplan.com to follow our progress and comment.

For a copy of the existing plan, go to:

http://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/areaplans/swplan.shtml 

Back in February, the states of Alaska and Washington announced they would conduct an independent scientific review of the November 2010 biological opinion (BiOp) by the National Marine Fisheries Service concerning the impact of groundfish fisheries on Steller sea lions. The results of that review were released in July, and the four-person panel "did not agree with the finding of JAM (jeopardy of adverse modification) for Steller sea lions in the western and central Aleutian Islands as concluded in the BiOp for the Fisheries Management Plan". Among other findings, the panel said that "the proposed RPAs (reasonable and prudent alternatives) [in the BiOp] will not arrest the decline in the numbers of sea lions in the western and central Aleutian Islands." The panel also stated that the comment period for the draft BiOp was "insufficient for serious peer and public review," and found that certain alternate hypotheses for the declines in sea lion numbers were simply rejected without supporting scientific data. A public meeting will be held in Anchorage on August 22 for panel members to receive comments and feedback, and public comments will also be taken by email through September 1.      

The second annual Energy Awareness Month will be held this October. This effort is meant to unite all Alaskans under a common cause to enhance energy efficiency and conservation in our beautiful state. So this October (or before), get an energy assessment, switch your light bulbs and seal tight & ventilate right because It's Common $ense to become more energy efficient. Make sure to keep an eye out for the numerous energy events and activities throughout the state. To find out what events are happening in your area and for more information check out www.akenergyefficiency.org. 

In addition, we recently wrapped up the final edits of the 2011 Energy Savers Tips booklet and it was sent off to the printers, so we hope to have thousands of copies available by October. This booklet contains over 20 pages of easy changes that can be made to save energy and dollars in your homes and businesses, and is an update from our 2009 version. Rebekah Luhrs, former Energy VISTA with SWAMC, put in many hours on this project and deserves our thanks!