Transportation

Editor’s note: The following was distilled from an hour-long conversation, edited for length and clarity Rhonda McBride, KMXT: It hasn’t been an easy summer, especially with these recent cases of COVID.  John MacKinnon, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities DOT & PF Commissioner John McKinnon: We’re running the Matanuska at about 30% of its actual capacity — …

(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct an error about the need for a ship to go out to sea during a tsunami warning. The original said 200 feet from shore. The sory was corrected to say the ship needs to be in waters 200 feet deep.) People expected to see the Tustumena make her way up the …

A passenger traveling on the Kennicott ferry has tested positive for COVID-19. The Alaska Marine Highway system says the traveler tested negative before boarding the Kennicott in Bellingham on June 27th. M/V Kennicott. Photo courtesy Alaska DOT website. After extensive contact tracing, the State Health and Social Services Department says the passenger only had close contact with one person on …

FERRY UPDATE  12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2020 The M/V Kennicott is due to arrive from Whittier at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.  It is scheduled to depart for Whittier at 9:30 p.m. The M/V Tustumena is set to arrive at 10:45 a.m. on Friday and leave at 5 p.m. The Tusty will be coming and going from Homer, by way of …

As part of a final warning, this yellow card could be issued to a guest who repeatedly refuses to wear a mask or face covering on our aircraft. (photo from Alaska Airlines) Alaska Airlines is getting serious about wearing masks on their flights. This week, the airline announced that flight attendants will be able to issue what is called a …

The following press release, which outlines testing and mask requirements for travelling on the state ferries, was received Wednesday afternoon from the Alaska Department of Transportation. We post it as received with minor editing. This is a breaking story and KMXT will have more information, and an explanation of the rules during local newscast which will be posted online later. …

M/V Tustumena Sailings cancelled from June 27 to July 1 for continuing COVID-19 mitigation   The ferry Tustumena won’t be returning to Kodiak on June 28 as scheduled, because all sailings through July 1 have been cancelled for “continuing COVID-19 mitigation,” according to a state DOT press release. Service is scheduled to resume when Tustumena departs Homer for Seldovia on …

By Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media The Signpost Forest in Yukon Territory is an iconic stop for drivers headed to Alaska. (Adam Jones/Wikimedia Commons) There’s a lot to keep track of when it comes to COVID-19 and Alaska’s response to the pandemic. Reporters all over the state are talking to experts and local Alaskans every day about the impact the virus …

UPDATE:  Sailings for the M/V Tustumena are now said to be “fluid,” and while ferry officials hope to keep the original Saturday sailing, when the Tusty will actually depart Homer depends on test results. Kodiak’s local ferry office manager, Amanda Becker told KMXT on Monday evening the Tustumena will be disinfected, and then some tests will be taken to determine …

M/V Tustumena at Kodiak dock. Photo by Gordon Leggett via Wikipedia.com. This story has been updated to include details on future Tustumena sailings. A crewmember of the M/V Tustumena tested positive for COVID-19 Saturday in Dutch Harbor, causing the Department of Transportation to cancel Tustumena voyages until June 12. According to press releases published on social media Saturday by the …