HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2019-84Sponsored by: Council Members Pettey and Knackstedt
CITY OF KENAI
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-84
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, REQUESTING THE
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES KEEP THE
SILVERTIP MAINTENANCE STATION OPEN.
WHEREAS ; on September 4, 2019, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOT&PF) issued a press release announcing its decision to close the Silvertip Maintenance
Station located near the junction of the Seward and Hope Highways, and to have the Crown Point
and Girdwood maintenance stations provide services to the Silvertip region originally from 4 a.m.
to 8 p.m . but extended those hours on October 24, 2019, from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m . and,
WHEREAS, the Silvertip Station is in the midst of the Kenai Mountains, enabling DOT&PF to
provide prompt road maintenance services in the heart of this elevated area of steep slopes and
frequent curves along the Seward Highway through Turnagain Pass; and,
WHEREAS, the Seward Highway is the sole roadway connection to the Kenai Peninsula Borough ,
home to approximately 58,522 people, and is relied on daily for travel for many purposes including
access to medical services, the delivery of mai l, goods and services , other business travel, and
may other import purposes; and, .
WHEREAS, the Silvertip Station is about 25 road miles from the Girdwood Station and about 32.5
miles from the Crown point Station, which leaves a large additional expanse to be covered by
these stations, and is expected to result in substantially delayed and reduced road maintenance
services in the area previously covered by the Silvertip Station; and,
WHEREAS, this is also expected to resu lt in increased road closures, depending upon weather
and road conditions, on this important arterial highway; and,
WHEREAS, the traffic between 1 O p.m. and 4 a .m. normally consists of heavy semi-trucking
including doubles and carrying heavier than normal loads in order to travel at a time when most
of the public is not on the road; and,
WHEREAS , the Kenai Peninsula Borough has established the Eastern Peninsula Highway
Emergency Service Area which coordinates the provision of volunteer emergency services along
the Seward Highway and eastern portions of the Sterling Highway which under current conditions
requires volunteers to put in long hours to respond to accidents and deliver injured people to
medical services when needed ; and,
WHEREAS, this severe reduction in road maintenance will also detrimentally impact road safety
by delaying the ability of emergency personnel to respond to vehicle accidents occurring within
the Seward Highway corridor and then deliver injured people to the health care services they may
require; and,
Resolution No. 2019-84
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, the lack of maintenance during these hours will likely increase the volume of heavier
commercial vehicles traveling at the same times most smaller vehicles travel, further increasing
safety risks .
NOW , THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI , ALASKA:
Section 1. That the City Council of Kenai Alaska, strongly urges the Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities to keep the Silvertip Maintenance Station open during the
upcoming winter months with personnel needed to properly maintain that section of the highway .
Section 2. That copies of this resolution shall be sent to Governor Michael R. Dunleavey ;
John McKinnon , Commissioner DOT&PF; Wolfgang Junge, Director, Central Region , DOT&PF;
Mike Lesmann, Legislative Liaison, DOT&PF; Senator Peter Micciche; Senator Gary Stevens ;
Representative Ben Carpenter; Representative Sarah Vance; Representative Gary Knopp ; Kenai
Peninsula Borough; City of Seward ; City of Homer; City of Soldotna , and the Municipality of
Anchorage.
Section 3. That this resolution takes effect immediately upon passage.
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 181h day of December,
2019.
ATTEST:
'Vtflar «1/th, a Pa.f~ Ct~ «1/th, a Fatan"
210 Fidalgo Ave, Kena i , Alaska 99611 -7794
Telephone : (907) 283-7535 1 Fax : (907) 283-3014
www.kenai .city
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Council
Glenese Pettey and Henry Knackstedt, Council Members
December 12, 2019
Resolution No. 2019-84 Requesting Alaska DOT and Public Facilities
Keep the Silvertip Maintenance Station Open
The Seward Highway is the sole roadway connection to the Kenai Peninsula Borough . On
September 4, 2019, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
issued a press release announcing its decision to close the Silvertip Maintenance Station located
near the junction of the Seward and Hope Highways. This is expected to result in reduced road
maintenance services, causing a detrimental impact to road safety by delaying the ability of
emergency personnel to respond to vehicle accidents occurring within the Seward Highway
corridor, will likely increase the volume of heavier commercial vehicles traveling at the same times
most smaller vehicles travel, and increased road closures on this important arterial highway.
We request your support.