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ALASKA STATE RAIL PLAN
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Plan Status

(Juneau, April, 2016)  The formal comment period for the draft Alaska State Rail Plan is closed.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to review the draft plan and submitted their comments. 

The final Alaska State Rail Plan will be posted on this site later this Spring.

In brief, the Alaska State Rail Plan (ASRP) –

  • Offers a vision for rail in Alaska to guide the state’s rail freight and passenger transportation planning activities and project development plans over the next 20 years.
  • Describes the state’s existing rail network and rail-related economic and socio-economic impacts.
  • Is intended to meet the requirements established by the Federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) to qualify for future federal funding for rail projects.
  • Describes the state rail planning process, supporting goals, potential capital improvements, studies, and recommended next steps.

The plan’s goals and objectives are aligned with the rail vision and were developed based on the rail-related benefits, issues, and obstacles that were identified during the planning process.  Briefly, the goals identified in the plan are:

  • Goal 1: Promote Economic Development in Alaska
  • Goal 2: Enhance Safety
  • Goal 3: Encourage Partnership and Collaboration
  • Goal 4: Support Improvements to System Preservation, Efficiency, and Capacity
  • Goal 5: Improve Connectivity of the Transportation System
  • Goal 6: Enhance Quality of Life and Environmental Sustainability
  • Goal 7: Address Community Issues that Arise from Urban Development around Railroads
  • Goal 8: Establish a Recurring Public Capital Investment Program

Please consult the full ASRP for the detailed discussion of the goals and objectives.

It is important to note that this is a plan to guide the State of Alaska and DOT&PF’s role in rail transportation in Alaska; it is not a long-term plan for the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) or the White Pass & Yukon Route (WP&YR), which have their own corporate plans.

The completed Alaska State Rail Plan will be a living document that addresses an expansive spectrum of issues, including passenger rail service objectives and a long-range investment program for freight and passenger infrastructure.  The ASRP will enable ADOT&PF to implement a broad approach to statewide planning that will integrate passenger and freight rail elements into the larger Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan, expand economic development opportunities, and improve network safety and efficiency.

Public open houses were held in May-June 2013 in Skagway, Haines, Wasilla, Seward, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Nome to seek input on the plan’s Vision Statement, plan goals, and to identify potential system-wide needs. The outcome of those meetings, along with input from Alaska’s two existing railroads, shippers, local governments, and other stakeholders has resulted in the draft Alaska State Rail Plan.  The formal public comment period on the draft plan closed March 10, 2016.