Recently I read about a $177 million award to the Alaska Marine Highway and feel compelled to comment on the news because it’s imperative the taxpayers (voters) make informed decisions on matters affecting them for years to come.
A Sept. 13 press release by Alaska’s congressional delegation states: “U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK) today announced the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) substantial award of $177 million in federal grants for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). This award was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and aims to bolster operations and capital projects to improve essential ferry service for Alaska…”
Between 1958-59, Alaska’s government officials first proposed a new and expanded ferry system to service multiple Alaskan communities with big ships running the whole run; since they were not ferries in the true definition of a ferry, they called it the “Marine Highway.”
During this time, Capt. G. D. Gitkov, a commander in the U.S. Maritime Service, and captain and operator of the Alaska ferry MV Chilkat after exhaustive research, coupled with his professional experience and knowledge, proposed an affordable and efficient ferry system to Alaskan communities. Despite his efforts the recommendations were not implemented. The pitfalls he enumerated of the proposed “Marine Highway” all happened. The Marine Highway has been a financial burden to taxpayers and has been plagued with numerous ongoing operational problems since 1963 and has not serviced smaller communities well.
I hope Alaskan officials spend the award (all money comes directly and indirectly from the taxpayers) wisely to meet the needs of all Alaskans. I recommend Gitkov’s autobiography, “A Long, Long Watch, Vol III, Life in Alaska, 1946-1963,” in which he discussed the pros and cons related to ferry systems; and constructive criticism of the implemented system.
Since 1963, roads have been extended: to Skagway, near Berners Bay (Juneau), etc.; so Gitkov’s ideas need to be tweaked, but serve as a feasible foundation for the “Marine Highway.” Mr. Dave Werner, of Haines, piggybacked on Gitkov’s ideas to meet changes that came with time. Mr. Werner sent his proposals to Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the director of the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Margaret Myers
Juneau