Correction: An earlier version of this article misidentified Roger Healy as Rob Healy. This article has been updated to reflect the change.
A public transportation transit center will be coming to the Mendenhall Valley.
The exact location and time is not yet determined, but the first step was taken in the construction as the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly approved $800,000 of partial funding to a valley transit/transfer center during their regular meeting at Assembly Chambers Monday night.
The funding is provided by the Alaska Department of Transportation and the city agreed to match 20 percent ($200,000) with existing capital transit appropriation. While a specific site is still being decided on, CBJ Engineering Director Roger Healy said the city has a location in mind.
“No absolute site is confirmed,” Healy said. “But we have one site in particular we are looking at — the Vintage Park area.”
Healy said because of its location near federal buildings, Safeway and a new retirement community, the site makes the most sense, but deciding on that particular area is still dependent on federal rules and regulations.
Healy said he would like to have a site officially determined by July or August and construction could start by next construction season.
“We could start the design process in August,” Healy said. “It shouldn’t be too extensive. It will mostly be pulling in utilities and constructing a canopy to keep passengers dry from rain.”
In other action from Monday’s meeting:
• The Assembly also adopted an ordinance appropriating $700,000 from the Fiscal Year 2018 1 percent sales tax fund balance as partial funding toward upgrades at Bartlett Regional Hospital’s Rainforest Recovery Center. The new project will renovate and provide an addition to the recovery center on the hospital’s campus.
• Funding in the amount of approximately $1.8 million toward a passenger boarding bridge at the Juneau International Airport was also approved by the Assembly. The funding comes from the airport fund’s fund balance. The funding allows time for the contractor to complete pre-construction activities until a Federal Aviation Administration grant is received — which is expected midway through April.
• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.
