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Commission endorses downtown plan

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to endorse the Vision Fairbanks downtown revitalization plan. The revitalization project focuses on using public infrastructure to spark private investment from businesses and create new retail, office and housing in the city’s core. The plan calls for returning major north-south roads, Barnette and Cushman streets, to two-way and for more on-street parking. It also broadly focuses on the area’s zoning options, bus routes and sidewalks. Organizers have asked the Borough Assembly and Fairbanks City Council to formally adopt the plan. Commissioners generally said the plan provides a positive, if nascent, long-term planning guide.

“Perfect. That’s what we need,” chairman Chris Miller said.

Railroad cancels open house

The Alaska Railroad Corp. canceled plans to host open houses in Fairbanks and Anchorage this spring. Railroad officials usually host the events in May. A corporation spokesman said construction at the railroad’s Anchorage transportation center erased the chance of hosting an open house, an issue that caused logistical problems for plans for an open house in Fairbanks.

“We are going to miss this year’s events as much as our rail fans will, but come 2009, we’ll be ready and welcoming everybody back,” Railroad President Pat Gamble said in a news release issued Tuesday.

Tanana schools receive surplus computers

Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Tanana was named one of the five recipients of surplus Senate computers for its schools.

Tanana and schools in Slana, Yakutat, Hydraburg and Klukwan will recieve five computers each as part of the U.S. Senate Computer for Schools Program. The schools were chosen based on the compatibility of the computers and a preference given to schools where it was determined that a donation of five computers would have a major impact on students’ academic achievement.