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DOT previews rolling STIP, toll credits and growing pipeline of $100M-plus projects

Alaska House Transportation Committee ยท January 27, 2026

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Summary

DOT told the committee it will publish a public-review draft of a rolling, four-year STIP in mid-February, will use toll credits and AC conversions to preserve key marine and other projects, and warned that inflation has produced more projects exceeding $100 million.

Deputy Commissioner Catherine Keith told the House Transportation Committee the department is moving to a rolling Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to reduce last-session timing problems and give partners earlier visibility. DOT plans a public-review draft in mid-February and a 45-day comment period for the four-year window.

Keith said the rolling STIP is intended to be more frequent and transparent: DOT will circulate a pre-release for a 10-day agency review to capture technical corrections before public comment. She said the department has revamped narrative pages to use clearer language and intends to employ artificial intelligence tools "to ensure acronyms are spelled out" and to detect programming errors, but the narrative will still be reviewed and finalized by staff.

Forecast and fiscal tools: DOT projected 2026 advertising of roughly 91 projects with an estimated value of $670 million to $1.1 billion (60 highway, 19 airport, 8 other). The department said it will leverage toll credits for marine-harbor or vessel projects and use AC conversions to pay down advanced-construction balances; when match is later resolved, DOT will issue an amendment to the STIP.

Inflation and large projects: Commissioner Ryan Anderson said the department is seeing more corridor-scale projects that exceed $100 million and even some that exceed $250 million; DOT plans to break large projects into smaller chunks, seek grant opportunities and manage cost escalation in line with the FHWA National Highway Construction Cost Index.

Next steps: DOT will release a public-review draft of the rolling STIP (targeted Feb. 13) and accept comment; if the Legislature or other stakeholders resolve match availability, DOT will follow with a targeted amendment listing projects to include once funds are available.