[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6279644,"mediaKeyId","2621763-e683a86f82ac753a0dad8d668add0034","parentId",2621763,"title","Alaska DOT urges ‘‘safe systems’’ approach as pedestrian deaths remain overrepresented","audioSeconds",4096,"startMs",864000,"endMs",4960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621763-e683a86f82ac753a0dad8d668add0034&start=864&end=4960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621763-e683a86f82ac753a0dad8d668add0034/thumbnail_864000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6279644/Alaska/Alaska-DOT-urges-safe-systems-approach-as-pedestrian-deaths-remain-overrepresented","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279644-f36f5793eeba5c9a922ae82baef06882/orig.mp4?Expires=1775201826&Signature=YZp8Xm~lF78gprDRzcU5TTKlsQMSnmW-Fh1jhQ5ZJsRMDFUedPyIqSPCGcfexNxe-t5y8uYCglZ2Yc8nOEmylkh1RBDgZdvJkAYEBBlKB81zGBDHHRkbSewxsT2hLlh3AbDAd76di61ogIL4Mda4vV8ALQhloC~yDMPof-1wFeP9Y-pLxsi1THhBkaI3ozd6gK34LlT93oNnumPh51jaUuElKe-5~SHDHEx2NuUpRuH8LHeUasYHZSRg4vzTmMGxwbNtFXxGs0egOYgw14b2xskAEssIGPFRMNwU~axib07saXx0WbMzvBOVccMLOULXdbRo7CSUXsVxOKQNS8Jxpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","Alaska Department of Transportation officials told the Senate Transportation Committee on March 13 that the agency is adopting a ‘‘safe systems’’ approach across projects to drive toward zero deaths and serious injuries on state roadways. Shannon McCarthy, communication director for Alaska DOT, told the committee: \"Deaths and serious injuries are not acceptable, and there are steps that we can take, some incremental, some big, that can drive us closer to that number.\"

The department presented five-year crash trends and countermeasures, emphasizing that pedestrians and bicyclists are overrepresented among fatalities. Pam Golden, state traffic and safety engineer for DOT, said the agency recorded 77 non-motorized fatalities over a five-year period and noted preliminary counts of 12 pedestrian fatalities in 2023 and 15 in 2024. Golden also highlighted that Anchorage—about 40% of the state population—accounted for roughly 67% of fatal pedestrian crashes.

Why it matters: DOT said the combination of higher pedestrian exposure in urban centers, roadway speed and emergency-response times in rural areas contributes to worse outcomes. \"If you have a serious crash in a rural area, it takes longer for an EMS to get there,\" McCarthy said, noting that slower response can increase the likelihood of a fatal outcome. The department said speed is a primary driver of severe outcomes: one slide cited a break point around 35 mph where risks of serious injury and death rise sharply.

DOT described planned and ongoing actions. On engineering: the state favors roundabouts and has more than 50 in place, uses rumble strips and newer guardrail standards, and has adopted ‘‘safety edge’’ paving to reduce severe run-off-road outcomes. The department said it is updating the Alaska Traffic Manual and will require separate signal heads per approach lane on new or rebuilt signals, and is piloting leading pedestrian intervals and accessible pedestrian signals in regions including Fairbanks and Anchorage. Shannon McCarthy said variable speed-limit projects have begun design on the Seward Highway (Girdwood to Potter Marsh) and the Richardson Highway section outside Fairbanks (Eielson to Fairbanks).

On programs and policy: DOT described two safety-focused programs—the Alaska Highway Safety Office (behavioral programs, grants, high-visibility enforcement) and the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) that funds engineering projects. McCarthy said the Highway Safety Office grant application window runs March 15–April 30 and is open to tribal entities, local governments, law enforcement and some nonprofits. The department said a Complete Streets policy is under development and the agency is revising its speed-limit policy to reflect roadway context and urban issues.

Community engagement and data: DOT officials said they are expanding community outreach (the “partners in safety” events, including a Denali Borough Health and Safety Fair on March 27) and seeking public data about near-misses and local conditions. McCarthy said 511 traveler-information services are widely used—DOT reported almost 400,000 users in early 2024 and about 1 million unique accesses to 511 in 2024—and that the system now ingests live alerts from vehicles, plows and bus operators. The department described a brush-clearing contract of about $1 million along a heavy-haul corridor to improve sight distance and reduce roadside hazards.

Committee questions focused on winter tires and road damage from studded tires, how variable speed systems determine thresholds, the effect of roadway width and crossings on pedestrian risk, and whether lower posted limits change driver behavior. McCarthy and Golden told senators that studded tires damage pavement and that research, stakeholder engagement and cost trade-offs have informed department deliberations. They also said lowering posted limits alone typically yields only a small change (two to three mph) in actual operating speeds without accompanying design changes or enforcement.

The presentation also previewed targeted ‘‘vulnerable road user safety assessments’’ and three regional road-safety-audit packages for 2025, plus urban safety corridor planning in Anchorage. Officials said pilots — including temporary protected bike lanes and pilot lane drops — are being used to test designs before committing to permanent changes.

Ending: DOT staff told the committee they will follow up on several member questions and continue community engagement as projects and policy updates proceed. \"We are happy to follow-up on any of the questions that we weren't able to answer today,\" McCarthy said. The committee adjourned with a plan to remain in contact as the legislature considers related actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/13/2025 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION","oneSentenceSummary","Alaska Department of Transportation officials told the Senate Transportation Committee on March 13 that the agency is adopting a ‘‘safe systems’’ approach across projects to drive toward zero deaths and serious injuries on state roadways.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6279639,"Commercial vehicle compliance: DOT reports weigh-station activity, inspections and high weight-compliance rates",771,4939000,5710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621763-e683a86f82ac753a0dad8d668add0034&start=4939&end=5710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621763-e683a86f82ac753a0dad8d668add0034/thumbnail_4939000.jpg","/articles/6279639/Alaska/Commercial-vehicle-compliance-DOT-reports-weigh-station-activity-inspections-and-high-weight-compliance-rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279639-88c6ec9a81d4666b963688d95cdee203/orig.mp4?Expires=1775201826&Signature=e-ugGpcmDud1mtzWrTRi~mWhoAdRk6AX3949iYxClhShINPx4z~-DwE8xJW8MDsmM9pmf5rgusEQWW1nz54~EnZtoTnjuFR8FzoYeAgaNvrZaRPQiSJLHGuEtkCtNqGIollPxCKtoaSrqzRPgFaNXgI1vYRNV~Flzb8xDPQ42ukuZVexWcscnkgVPdJSohMYJyICDeMb04VHBf3s10Fm1eEqKFv8fVmzxzMQEyvhuMQjMcU5UhRgO0GqR-4qDWHBX~UGpCHzk2~Em1wpyWFXpOmrgEpjPBKO5AFbwZ9-hxmTBnTd2HjRrk8vNtAOXQ6btgJejNDcCzsL7b6275f8HQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dan Smith, director of measurement standards and commercial vehicle compliance, and Chief Carlos Rojas told the Senate Transportation Committee on March 13 that the division’s inspections and weigh-station operations showed generally high driver compliance but recurring vehicle defects. \"Our goal was 200 [portable weigh-station inspections] and we did 250,\" Smith said, summarizing portable- and static-way operations for federal fiscal year 2024.

What the data show: Smith reported nearly 69,000 static weigh-station vehicle weight records and about 8,310 comprehensive driver-vehicle inspections for the period presented. Of the inspected drivers, about 98% had no out-of-service violations; of vehicles inspected, about 82% had no out-of-service violations. The statewide weight-compliance rate cited was 97.3%.

Program details: Chief Rojas said the division operates nine fixed way stations and deploys 32 commercial vehicle compliance inspectors statewide; staffing and schedules are adjusted using traffic-count and seasonality data. Smith and Rojas described inspection levels that range from driver credential checks and record-of-duty-status reviews to full comprehensive inspections that examine suspension, brakes, steering and other critical components.

Geographic breakdown and operational notes: Smith provided station counts and volumes: Toke reported 10,764 weighed vehicles during the reporting period; the Fairbanks area showed about 27,000 vehicle passes (inbound and outbound); Anchorage-area stations recorded roughly 26,000; Sterling accounted for about 5,500. Smith said some operations focus on long-haul carriers that expect regular inspection while other outreach targets ‘‘second population’’ carriers who rarely encounter weigh stations.

Committee questions and follow-up requests: Senators asked how way-station operations are selected and scheduled; Chief Rojas said stations display an open/closed sign and that when open all commercial vehicles must stop, though some carriers use transponders to proceed at specific locations. Rojas said the agency staffs weigh stations and field operations based on traffic counters and freight activity patterns and that operations include 24/7 capability at selected sites when staffing allows.

Risk and next steps: Committee members asked for more detail on the severity of vehicle defects; Smith said the agency tracks violations and uses inspection outcomes to prioritize rural deployments but did not provide a split of critical versus minor violations during the hearing. \"For those vehicle violations that we deem critical, we're right in line with the national averages and our drivers are much better than the national average,\" Smith told the committee. The department committed to provide additional breakdowns on critical-item violations on request.

Ending: Smith and Rojas told the committee they will continue targeted inspections and outreach to improve vehicle safety in regions that show higher rates of equipment defects. \"We do look at every one of our inspection reports,\" Smith said, and the division uses those reports to plan future deployments and training.","Commercial-vehicle officials reported weigh-station activity, inspection totals and compliance rates to the Senate Transportation Committee, saying statewide static weight checks reached roughly 69,000 and that driver compliance was high while some vehicle defects remain common.","actionData","errors"]

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Alaska DOT urges ‘‘safe systems’’ approach as pedestrian deaths remain overrepresented

Commercial vehicle compliance: DOT reports weigh-station activity, inspections and high weight-compliance rates