Finance committee backs forwarding draft comments on STIP Amendment No. 2, seeks clarity on Skagway ferry funding

The finance committee on Wednesday recommended the assembly consider sending the staff-drafted comment letter on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Amendment No. 2 and asked staff to seek clearer documentation from the state on funding changes.

Manager Deach told the committee staff largely reused comments prepared for the 2024–27 STIP but had difficulty identifying what the amendment actually changed because the state no longer provided a clear spreadsheet. "It was very difficult for us to see exactly what they were attempting to amend in amendment number 2," Manager Deach said, describing staff’s side-by-side manual comparison of projects.

The committee flagged a key concern about the Skagway ferry-terminal modifications: staff noted $6,000,000 in FY25 STIP funds listed for the community but said the amendment's presentation made it unclear whether those funds remain assigned to Skagway. "We don't know if they're adding funds there or—yeah—what is that," Manager Deach said, asking the state to provide the missing amendment spreadsheet.

Members also attached recent assembly resolutions supporting ferry shore power and Klondike Highway pedestrian and bike improvements to the comment packet. Chair (unnamed) said staff should ask the borough lobbyist, John Walsh, to help navigate the new amendment format and advocate for clarity.

Member Potter moved and Alex Waddell seconded recommending the draft comment letter be forwarded to the assembly for consideration; the motion passed by voice vote.

Staff will follow up with the state and lobbyist to confirm whether the Skagway ferry-terminal line items and the cited FY25 funds remain allocated as previously understood. The committee recorded no additional formal actions beyond the recommendation to forward the comment letter.