Senators press for restored winter‑maintenance funding as DOT faces staffing gaps

Senator Bjorkman, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, described hazardous driving conditions after recent freeze–thaw cycles and rain and urged support for restoring maintenance capacity at the Department of Transportation.

"We recently have heard a lot of what's happening on our winter roads relating to recent snowfall events followed by rain that are causing some pretty hazardous and difficult driving conditions," Bjorkman said, citing multiple-car crashes on the Glenn Highway and flooding on the Seward Highway. He outlined DOT tools intended to help drivers—an online winter dashboard, a Road Weather Information System of cameras and dynamic reader boards—and stressed that staffing vacancies are hampering response.

Bjorkman said two plow stations were operating at roughly 60% capacity because they had only "3 out of 5 operators in place," and that filling those vacancies and restoring maintenance budgets would "go a long way." He noted the governor's budget includes $5,000,000 for winter maintenance and said the legislature should avoid cutting maintenance and operations.

President Stevens also noted the House is working on a supplemental appropriations bill that includes $70,000,000 in matching funds for transportation. Senator Stebbins said he expects supplemental budget amendments to be offered in finance and urged swift action so the governor can receive the funds and the legislature can focus on the FY 2027 budget.

Senators invited the public and reporters to follow the afternoon Senate Transportation committee meeting, where the department will present proposed reorganization and further details about project execution and staffing plans.