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Representative McCabe presents resolution urging completion of Port MacKenzie and Northern Rail extensions
Summary
Representative Kevin McCabe presented House Joint Resolution 14 to the House Transportation Committee on April 10, urging completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and the Northern Rail Extension and citing economic, defense and supply-chain benefits.
Representative Kevin McCabe presented House Joint Resolution 14 on April 10, urging completion of two rail projects — the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and the Northern Rail Extension — and outlining benefits including reduced road congestion, resource transport to tidewater and improved defense logistics.
"These rail extensions will alleviate road congestion, enhance supply chain resilience, and create jobs," Representative McCabe told the House Transportation Committee as he described potential uses including coal and pipeline materials. He also highlighted support from Mat-Su Borough letters and said he planned to use the resolution as support for a federal consolidated rail grant (CRISI) application.
Committee members questioned project cost estimates and community outreach. Multiple members noted large and differing cost estimates; Representative McCabe said the Alaska Railroad has provided an estimate in the range of roughly $275–$300 million to complete the 32-mile Port MacKenzie extension, a figure he characterized as high compared with lower per-mile estimates others have provided. "If we follow the $290,000,000 estimate from the railroad, that would be 14 and a half million dollars per mile," McCabe said, adding he has not seen an engineering report supporting that figure.
Members requested maps and additional documentation: Representative Stutes asked for a map showing the planned routes and for more detail about which segments and what work remain. Committee chairs said they would provide maps and background materials. Representative McCabe also inserted language in the resolution urging the Alaska Railroad to renew a "community-minded approach" after committee discussion about right-of-way and local concerns.
Disposition: the committee heard the resolution and engaged in extended questions and discussion, but did not take a floor vote on HJR 14 that day. Committee staff recorded that HJR 14 would be set aside for later consideration and the sponsor intends to use the resolution to support a grant application to the federal CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements) program.
