By Margaret Bauman
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Rising fuel costs are prompting recommendations from the Alaska Mobility Coalition for state funding for public transit services.

In the last two or three months alone, the number of passengers riding on the state's existing community transportation systems is up 10 percent to 12 percent and increasing rapidly, David Levy, executive director of AMC, said June 12.

Following a national trend, passenger trips are up 258,000 rides, or 5 percent, in the last 12 months among the eight public transit systems in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Kenai Peninsula and Sitka, according to an analysis based on transit systems done in May for AMC.

In the Mat-Su Valley alone, transit passenger trips have increased from 78,000 to 92,000 rides, AMC said.

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and Mat-Su Borough Mayor Curt Menard on June 13 signed an agreement to develop a Regional Transit Authority to serve the 14,000 people who regularly commute between the Mat-Su and Anchorage.

“We're stepping up our efforts by expanding commuter bus service, expanding the van-pool program, and by starting ferry service,” Menard said in a written release. “Our new ferry will carry workers, commuters, snowmachiners, fishermen, and others between Point MacKenzie, Anchorage, and points along the Upper Cook Inlet. The ship will reduce hours of commute time and tanks of fuel consumption in a single trip.”

New options could include additional bus and van capacity, car-pooling, Glenn Highway improvements, commuter rail development, the Mat-Su ferry and exploration of other transportation modes.

The Alaska Railroad Corp. has spent millions of dollars over the past five years to prepare for commuter rail by straightening track, building a new rail station at the Anchorage Airport and a rail depot in Palmer, as well as beginning work on an intermodal hub in Ship Creek.

One of the challenges to existing transit systems is providing enough additional vehicles and drivers.

“We are working with the Legislature and Gov. (Sarah) Palin's office to get short-term and long-term assistance,” Levy said.

Begich, a candidate for U.S. Senate, noted that about 11,000 people currently commute to work between the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage, and that the number of commuters is projected to increase to 30,000 in about 15 years.

Alaska is one of only two states in the country that does not provide state funds for transit services. Like federal highway funds, federal transit funds require a percentage of matching funds.

AMC has recommended that the state provide fuel cost reimbursement for communities and state funding matches for community transportation systems.

According to AMC's analysis, rising fuel costs are putting all Alaska transportation systems into financial peril, forcing these systems to cut back on hours, levels of service and to raise fees beyond which low income rides can support.

AMC recommends that as part of a statewide plan to assist communities with high energy costs that the Legislature include a provision to support the fuel costs for local transit providers, up to 25 percent of their total fuel budget, but no more than $50,000 per recognized community transportation provider for a maximum of $500,000 in fiscal 2009.

AMC has also proposed the addition of $2.5 million in the general operating budget for fiscal 2009 for statewide transit programs. To use the state resources efficiently, AMC also recommends 10 percent local matching funds for communities seeking state aid.

AMC, founded in 2002, is a private, nonprofit membership organization that represents public, private and community transit providers and transit advocates in Alaska. Its mission is to achieve mobility through community-appropriate transportation services. In addition, AMC provides technical assistance to new and emerging transit providers in the state.

The organization has more than 40 member organizations statewide, and its members provide 6.5 million rides for Alaskans annually.

Margaret Bauman can be reached at margie.bauman@alaskajournal.com">margie.bauman@alaskajournal.com.