[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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",6058497,"mediaKeyId","3297105-29f7f8b356bc41ae67efaa725cefc354","parentId",3297105,"title","DOT says federal Buy America rules are delaying some utility relocations; Kenai Spur project highlights options","audioSeconds",2865,"startMs",683000,"endMs",3548000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297105-29f7f8b356bc41ae67efaa725cefc354&start=683&end=3548","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297105-29f7f8b356bc41ae67efaa725cefc354/thumbnail_683000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6058497/Alaska/DOT-says-federal-Buy-America-rules-are-delaying-some-utility-relocations-Kenai-Spur-project-highlights-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058497-341caab1f515678a33c99c21e15b44a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485701&Signature=C83p35i5LhBig8QcpvgKhGRJeGz17CeuRoXS3aaoPldr~ttLNsP7ZyfqiXmKIrJq-A23I~GCOVv3xIerVzKotZh5Z0AawsTiPuvt83M7JYSKHWM9jdxEOMB91pBTPE-fQ6m9VJSc2ETwyXUubG-RAYDiKTcIGx-KsJo5gvov2huzpVm9q4WZSCT2i7~uCp7lDHdh2aOBl8nL0Rzf1Mf52UKLMYJ7MwkU4iLHHfIKT-U4GKkktyRQgKOH7763ulbl5-fEJWe-G6Mtoq5ZZeVjVaSsIkhOpx~Jb8RtcQ~jtZZsCgiKTfiwsl6pYUNyHRBqe-xCuX0fncW5yX7kZBHBlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","Department of Transportation staff told the Senate Transportation Committee on May 13 that federal Build America Buy America (BABA) compliance has created delays on projects that require utility relocations, and that DOT is using contract strategies to keep projects moving when utilities cannot meet procurement requirements in time.

Andy Mills, special assistant and legislative liaison for DOT, told the committee that when utility relocation materials do not comply with federal Build America Buy America requirements, \"that project stops until such time as we're able to resolve that.\" He said, in some cases, DOT is placing utility relocation elements into the construction contract rather than relying on the utility company to perform relocations.

Committee members pressed for specifics about unresolved utility agreements on the Kenai Spur Road rehabilitation project (Sports Lake Road to Swires Road). Luke Boland, Central Region preconstruction engineer, said the project has cleared right‑of‑way and environmental issues but that two utility agreements remain outstanding: one with GCI and one with Homer Electric Association (HEA). Boland summarized the department's approach and status: \"what we're working with GCI on is low risk. There was some coordination with GCI on BABA or buy America, build America, compliance efforts here, and some legal language that has gone through a number of different lawyers on our side and their side.\" He said GCI had signed a related agreement for another project that included the BABA language, which reduces risk.

Boland said DOT and HEA are pursuing a dual path: HEA could execute a relocation agreement and procure compliant materials, or DOT could incorporate HEA's relocation work into the DOT construction contract so the prime contractor would procure materials under the DOT contract and assume Build America Buy America compliance responsibility. Boland said both options remain in play and that staff expect to resolve the approach \"in the very near future.\" Andy Mills told the committee DOT had been willing to use the construction‑contract path as a workable alternative to avoid delays.

The committee asked why language that was acceptable in one utility's agreement appeared to take longer with another provider; DOT said iterations of legal language and differing procurement circumstances had led to multiple drafts. Mills offered to provide further detail to the chair on comparative contract language if requested.

DOT staff emphasized that BABA compliance is one of several critical‑path issues that can be tracked in the TAS confidence format; committee members pressed departments and utilities for timely resolution because outstanding utility agreements can push a project out of the current federal fiscal year obligation window.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/13/2025 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION","oneSentenceSummary","At a Senate Transportation Committee hearing, DOT officials explained that Build America Buy America (BABA) compliance can stop utility relocation work until materials meet federal requirements; staff described shifting some relocations into construction contracts as an alternative and discussed outstanding agreements on the Kenai Spur Road work.","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},6058501,"DOT reports FHWA obligations, eyes $126 million August redistribution and monitors grant flow",324,944000,1268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297105-29f7f8b356bc41ae67efaa725cefc354&start=944&end=1268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297105-29f7f8b356bc41ae67efaa725cefc354/thumbnail_944000.jpg","/articles/6058501/Alaska/DOT-reports-FHWA-obligations-eyes-126-million-August-redistribution-and-monitors-grant-flow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058501-88c68066676c8279535f15ca7c044834/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485701&Signature=mkHVmZDf4ajMJ4SFzGt-YFZekW5gDxBG8QesvTwZkWKVHSf~oDfSyQpsDJcPdkOKFzbsE505VMFZqa0bkye-ZiAGMbOb4UpUfDUYau9jJi5nCJJxAlBGf7w2nX2QwcwWk100bSQTJhv-YubBY~i~~DASZm2W03u2YxVzH-Ki-rB-wl5gng5IKro4OlGaA7wYRKpu34UBTPadX6XOXlKPKcKYtW9Aq0fkPrVc7xfnJTC-f2fLpwl4hUsNR022YrNpfjREQLiG2MxfBo9esEcLWfPIUrk6a~v16k8i07RIAi--uGYAzVc6kRzd-CbbBNnAKi4kK4tsYVYP8Cqs~4j7Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Transportation officials told the Senate Transportation Committee on May 13 that Alaska has already obligated a large share of its fiscal‑year surface transportation funds and is preparing to capture a targeted August redistribution of federal formula dollars.

Dom Pannone, director of program management and administration, briefed the committee on federal funding posture and staffing at the Federal Highway Administration's Alaska division office. He said the FHWA Alaska office has 18 positions and \"about two‑thirds of those positions are currently vacant\" and that the division has recently hired a new division administrator. Pannone said the department and FHWA were working closely as DOT prepares STIP amendment 2 for formal FHWA review after public comment.

Pannone told the committee that DOT has obligated roughly $244.7 million of formula funds that are subject to a statutory limitation and roughly another $100 million of funds not subject to the annual limitation; the department's formula spending limitation for the current fiscal year is about $581 million. He said DOT is monitoring the potential to capture an additional $126 million in August redistribution and that staff are working with FHWA to prepare project packaging and documentation.

Officials also told the committee they have started to see grant awards from prior federal competitions begin to flow into Alaska projects — including grants for scalable operations and advanced remote technologies, avalanche mitigation detection projects and a small community air service grant for Fairbanks International Airport — and that they are tracking the return of programs such as the World Ferry Program.

Committee members asked whether the department was on track to capture the August redistribution and whether there were legislative steps that would help. Dom Pannone said the department is \"highly confident\" in its preparations and that DOT is using new funding flexibilities and closer coordination with metropolitan planning organizations to position projects for obligation. Andy Mills added that discretionary grants, congressional directed spending and other funding buckets can change the department's capacity and that DOT staff are engaged with congressional offices on CDS requests.

DOT told the committee it is monitoring the next federal funding bill; staff said a draft they had reviewed showed a 5.8% overall increase in funding levels with some program increases and some program decreases in aviation grant lines. The department said it will continue to brief the committee as the STIP amendment and funding landscape evolve.","DOT told the Senate Transportation Committee it had obligated substantial FHWA formula funds for the year, is tracking incoming grants, and is preparing to capture roughly $126 million in anticipated August redistribution if the STIP amendment clears federal review.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6058506,"Alaska DOT shares 12‑month tentative advertising schedule and confidence ratings for upcoming projects",229,1448000,1677000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297105-29f7f8b356bc41ae67efaa725cefc354&start=1448&end=1677","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297105-29f7f8b356bc41ae67efaa725cefc354/thumbnail_1448000.jpg","/articles/6058506/Alaska/Alaska-DOT-shares-12month-tentative-advertising-schedule-and-confidence-ratings-for-upcoming-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058506-2c354209c6e44f3fca6ecdcecc9e3826/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485701&Signature=dFrRUK98ZkMAZa5VYzjhq85aRFSj3EMH2aFtjxcrayal41Nb8l62WJkcJBSI97auKAccLYLU7x3y9sWwyEsUq4u1LBITd3vMwtpmNUu~fmMcjl8XzaWHekxAIMyIywO-qZhgglM4e-dSxQ0B96FaEywdb~vQIMEDXnnCDMY6rh6uIAjYvkpDGPZwljuf~0f3fGVl7ERD9WL4dhjG2TakQMEvuFDe3kYdA3qNsFrwiJRNT-UdpOyMXYnPADswLDRJQ19oVsXnkCbcogQqi9N2I~od3SmnQv-ZqwchJ114E1uSk-DQP6sfDAy6s8D-iXgf2K0m1AlcaSSkpbF~Te703w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on May 13 told the Senate Transportation Committee it is publishing a 12‑month tentative advertising schedule and using a color‑coded “confidence” system to show which projects are most likely to be advertised on time.

The TAS, officials said, lists projects by region that the department expects to advertise in the next 12 months; projects drop off the list when advertised and new projects appear as they move into the 12‑month window. Kirk Miller, South Coast region preconstruction engineer, described the TAS to the committee: \"The TAS is a list of projects organized by region anticipated to advertise in the next 12 months.\" He said the sheet is public and closely watched by contractors.

DOT gave the committee context for why dates change and how the confidence coding works. The office uses green, yellow and red markers to indicate relative likelihood of meeting an advertised month: green for high confidence, yellow for some risk, and red for higher risk or incomplete preconditions. Miller said South Coast currently shows 28 projects on its TAS, representing roughly $150 million to $280 million in anticipated construction contract awards over the next 12 months.

Department staff emphasized they are sharing the same slide set and confidence information with AGC (the contracting community) that they presented to the committee. \"What we're providing you in slides is what we have provided to AGC,\" said Andy Mills, special assistant and legislative liaison for DOT. Mills and regional preconstruction engineers said the department has increased the cadence of meetings and briefings with contractors: weekly internal check‑ins among preconstruction, project delivery and federal aid staff, and a monthly public Zoom the contracting community attends.

Central and Northern region staff gave similar format briefings during the hearing, using the same confidence columns and highlighting critical‑path items (environmental clearance, right‑of‑way, utilities). Luke Boland, Central Region preconstruction engineer, said Central Region was able to advertise several paving and preservation projects since late February and that the region is attempting to “front‑load” work where right‑of‑way and utility risks are low. Albert (Al) Beck, Northern Region preconstruction engineer, told the committee that Northern Region had accelerated several projects to provide contractors earlier opportunities to bid.

Committee members asked for historical context and comparisons among regions. Staff said project mixes and delivery challenges vary year to year and by project type (airports, highways, marine), so a direct apples‑to‑apples year‑to‑year comparison is not straightforward. The department said it will continue to refine the content it shares with AGC and is open to adopting additional metrics to increase transparency.

The committee and DOT staff said they expect to continue these updates; Senate Transportation scheduled its next meeting for May 15.","At a May 13 Senate Transportation Committee briefing, Alaska Department of Transportation officials outlined the agency's tentative advertising schedule (TAS), explained a color-coded confidence scale used to communicate delivery risk to contractors, and described expanded regular briefings with the contracting community.","actionData","errors"]

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DOT says federal Buy America rules are delaying some utility relocations; Kenai Spur project highlights options

DOT reports FHWA obligations, eyes $126 million August redistribution and monitors grant flow

Alaska DOT shares 12‑month tentative advertising schedule and confidence ratings for upcoming projects