Planning commission approves $2 million FAST resurfacing package for borough roads and paths

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission approved a bundled FAST (Fast Improvement) resurfacing program on Jan. 14, 2025, voting 9-0 to adopt staff findings and forward the local planning authority recommendation to the Chena Riverfront Commission where required.

The package, submitted by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities in cooperation with the Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation planning staff, covers repaving, milling, crack repairs, drainage work, pathway surface upgrades and limited vegetation/guardrail work at nine locations across Fairbanks and North Pole, with an estimated construction budget of about $2,000,000. Staff said the funding comes from Federal Highway Administration FAST program allocations and is intended for low‑cost, safety‑related preventive maintenance.

The planning staff presented project-level examples to the commission: West Tanana Drive (repave, roughly 1,600 linear feet), Eighth Avenue repaving and storm drain work in Doyon Estates, paving around the new transit loop near the MAX transit center on Tesoro Avenue, East Fourth Avenue in North Pole, a resurfacing of the Mitchell Expressway multi‑use path (including fence repairs), Chena Riverwalk crack repairs, and repaving or paving on Chena Lake South Loop and the Peninsula Trail. The staff presentation also listed contingency projects — Andrea Drive repave, Davis Road pathways repaving, Farmers Loop path resurfacing near the University, and a barrier to prevent plowed snow from blocking Scarlet Trail — which would be advanced if additional funding becomes available.

"The purpose of this project is to construct low cost improvements that are related to safety under the fast planning improvement program," staff contact Mr. Galligan told commissioners. Jackson Fox, planning staff, added the program typically funds preventative maintenance and aims for an annual funding target so staff can assemble an economical bundled bid: "...we strive to fund this program at a minimum of $1,000,000 per year," Fox said, noting that the current cycle was increased to about $2,000,000 after schedule slips and added funds became available.

DOT representatives described the work as mostly repaving, path resurfacing, localized repairs and fence fixes. "We're doing fence repairs. We're not replacing the whole thing. We're rather taking the most derelict sections and repairing them so that the whole fence is functional," said John Netardus, highway design manager with Alaska DOT. DOT engineering assistant Stacia Hiles added the applicant agencies coordinate nearby projects (for example, paving limits on West Tanana Drive were timed to match a planned roundabout project) and that federally funded projects touching accessible facilities require bringing curb ramps and touched pedestrian facilities into ADA compliance.

Commission discussion touched on sequencing with other projects, ADA ramp obligations, where contingency projects would be located (DOT staff explained the Scarlet Trail contingency is a public nomination to place a barrier to keep snow from berming the trail access), and the FAST program’s flexibility to absorb schedule changes. Commissioner Collier, who moved approval, said, "I'm a big believer in preventive maintenance. It's a lot easier to fix a small repair than to put a whole new road in."

The motion to approve HP2025-001 adopted the staff report and findings and added the condition that the action would be pending any positive recommendation or no action by the Chena Riverfront Commission for work within 150 feet of the Chena River. The commission voted 9-0 to approve the motion.

Work under the FAST bundle is intended to be bid as a single package for summer construction; staff said the federal funds have a period of availability and can be advanced up to three years if not spent in the awarded construction season. The Chena Riverwalk sections identified for work will be reviewed by the Chena Riverfront Commission at its Jan. 22 meeting, per staff.