HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2008-053Sponsored by: Oates
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2008-053
'~„~, A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE UPGRADE OF A PIECE OF
THE STERLING HIGHWAY (MILE 45-60) AND CREATING A
COOPERATIVE EFFORT WITH THE KENAI PENINSULA
CITIES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS
UPGRADE AND REQUESTING THE STATE MAKE THIS A
HIGH SAFETY PRIORITY FOR ADOT&PF
WHEREAS, the Sterling Highway is the only road that links western Kenai
Peninsula communities (Kenai, Soldotna, and Homer) to the rest of the state; and
WHEREAS, the Sterling Highway from MP 45 to 60 follows the Kenai River
valley through the Kenai Mountains; and
WHEREAS, the Kenai River, tributary creeks, and steep valley walls constrict
the road through much of the project corridor; and
WHEREAS, the scenic nature of the area, community growth, and world-class
fishing on the Kenai and Russian rivers combine to create serious congestion problems
for the highway from May through September; and
WHEREAS, the precursor to the current Sterling Highway was built in the
1930s, connecting Cooper Landing to Kenai; and
WHEREAS, it was not until 1950, that the Sterling and Seward highways
connected Homer and the other western Kenai Peninsula communities to Anchorage; and
WHEREAS, by 1973, the ADOT&PF recognized that the Sterling Highway
needed improvement and initially proposed to improve the highway between MP 37 and
60; and
WHEREAS, in the early 1980s and again in the 1990x, ADOT&PF began the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to determine environmental impacts
of proposed highway upgrades; and
WHEREAS, the 1994 NEPA resulted in a draft EIS; and
WHEREAS, a number of alternative routes were identified, but later rejected, for
engineering, environmental, financial, and traffic constraint reasons; and
WHEREAS, ADOT&PF completed upgrades of the MP 37 to 45 section in 2001,
leaving the section from MP 45 to 60 as the only section of the highway not to see
substantial improvement since it was first constructed; and
~..,, WHEREAS, the current NEPA process for the highway between MP 45 and 60
was initiated in 2000, with the purpose of supplementing the 1994 Draft Environmental
Impact Statement for MP 37 to 60; and
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2008-053
WHEREAS, ADOT&PF contracted with HDR Alaska, Inc. (HDR) to prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) that will again examine
alternatives for improvements to the Sterling Highway between mileposts (MP) 45 and
60; and
WHEREAS, since 1973, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (ADOT&PF) has recognized the need for improved safety and traffic flow
along this highway to accommodate the increase in traffic generated by community
growth and tourism; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the level of congestion has created substantial safety issues
for highway travelers and residents, especially in areas where high-speed traffic conflicts
with vehicles turning on and off the highway; and
WHEREAS, the increase in congestion has led to many deaths and severe
injuries; and
WHEREAS, the Sterling Highway from MP 45 to 60 serves as the thoroughfare
for an increasing number of daily deliveries by truck of hazardous material and toxic
chemicals that pose grave threats to the environment during spills resrfilting from vehicle
accidents; and . ,
WHEREAS, the City of Seward, the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the cities
within the Kenai Peninsula Borough urge the State to make this project a high priority.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SEWARD, ALASKA:
Section 1. The City of Seward strongly supports the upgrade on the Sterling
Highway (MP45-60) and supports the efforts of the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the
cities within the Kenai Peninsula to urge the State to make this a high safety priority.
Section 2. Requests the mayor forward copies of this resolution to the Kenai
Peninsula Borough Cities, the Governor of Alaska, the Commissioner of ADOT/PF, and
the Kenai Peninsula legislative delegation.
Section 3. This resolution shall take affect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, and this
23rd day of June, 2008.
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2008-053
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
Clark Corbridge, Mayor
AYES: Dunham, Valdatta, Bardarson, Amberg, Kellar, Corbridge
NOES: None
ABSENT: Smith
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
Jean ewis, C C,
City erk
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Council Agenda Statement
Meeting Date: June 23, 2008
From: Phillip Oates, City Manage~~i~~
Agenda Item: Sterling Highway Upgrade
BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION:
The Sterling Highway is the only road that links western Kenai Peninsula communities (Kenai,
Soldotna, and Homer) to the rest of the state. The scenic nature of the area, community growth, and
world-class fishing on the Kenai and Russian rivers combine to create serious congestion problems
for the highway from May through September.
In 1973, the ADOT&PF recognized that the Sterling Highway needed improvement and initially
proposed to improve the highway between MP 37 and 60. In the early 1980s and again in the 1990s,
ADOT&PF began the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to determine
environmental impacts of proposed highway upgrades. A number of alternative routes were
identified, but later rejected, for engineering, environmental, financial, and traffic constraint reasons.
ADOT&PF completed upgrades of the MP 37 to 45 section in 2001, leaving the section from MP 45
to 60 as the only section of the highway not to see substantial improvement since it was first
constructed. Since 1973, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(ADOT&PF) has recognized the need for improved safety and traffic flow along this highway to
accommodate the increase in traffic generated by community growth. and tourism. In 2008, the level
of congestion has created substantial safety issues far highway travelers and residents, especially in
areas where high-speed traffic conflicts with vehicles turning on and off the highway. The increase
in congestion has led to many deaths, severe and minor injuries and environmental spills. The City
of Seward and the cities on the Kenai Peninsula Borough urge the State to make this project a high
priority.
CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST:
Where applicable, this resolution is consistent with the Seward City Code, Charter, Comprehensive
Plans, Land Use Plans, Strategic Plan and City Council Rules of Procedures.
FISCAL NOTE:
Approved by Finance Department
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council approves Resolution 2008-053 supporting the upgrade on the Sterling Highway
(MP45-60) and supports the efforts of the Kenai Peninsula Cities to urge the State to make this a
high safety priority and requests the mayor forward copies of this resolution to the Kenai Peninsula
Borough Cities, the Governor of Alaska, the Commissioner of ADOT/PF, and the Kenai Peninsula
legislative delegation.
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