KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Alaska’s legislative session is still months away, but Kodiak’s City Council is already gearing up for it. Last night the council unanimously approved its list of capital improvement projects – a wish list of sorts for state and federal funding.
First up on the list is Mill Bay Road pavement rehabilitation. City Manager Aimee Kniaziowski said the hope was to originally replace the entire stretch of pavement between the downtown “Y” and Island Lake Road. However, the project will instead patch up certain sections of the road, much like what has already been done in some areas along the route. The result was a cheaper project for the city, with a similar end goal.
“We were able to reduce that request down from $7 million as a rebuild from the Y to Island Lake Road, which is that most heavily traveled – each section of the road has its own traffic count but we have up to 12,000 cars a day in that stretch. So we were able to reduce it by not having to replace the whole road bed and just do a rehab.”
Now the project is estimated at $3.5 million.
Kniaziowski said city funds will also be contributed to that project, specifically for the engineering study and as additional costs come forward.
Second on the city’s wish list is a project that has been on the list for a number of years, but yet to receive state funding.
“It is a portion of the Shelikof Street Pedestrian Improvement Program that was taken out and developed as a stand alone request to the state, to the legislature for $1.65 million. And that would build additional bulkhead parking from where it currently ends, to the breakwater. And that would give an additional 30 spaces off street parking in an area that’s tremendously crowded.”
Those funds will also go toward the design of a sidewalk in the area, too.
The city had a relatively short list this year, with only three projects making the cut. The third and final item on the capital improvement project list is for continued Shelikof Street improvements, specifically the construction of visitor shelter, information kiosk and public restrooms.
Kniaziowski said the hope is to pay for those facilities, which are estimated at $1.1 million, through state cruise ship tax revenue.
“We feel that it has both the appeal and ability to be funded through the cruise ship tax, as well as a benefit to the local community.”
Those facilities are intended for Pier II, so that they can be used by cruise ship and ferry passengers, as well as fishermen working on nets or coming on and off of boats.
On Tuesday the council presented those three projects to Kodiak’s Representative Alan Austerman, and a member of Senator Gary Stevens’ staff. Austerman said having a small list is wise, seeing as he anticipates it will be another tight-budget year with low capital budget funding.
