Fairbanks seeks extra road money
Published Sunday, November 30, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Transportation officials in Fairbanks asked the state this week to boost the allowance they get each year for roadway projects.
The Legislature reconvenes every year in January to set statewide spending plans for the forthcoming year. When it does, the Legislature often includes a small pot of money for the local transportation planning organization, the Fairbanks Metropolitan Area Transportation System, in its construction budget.
That organization’s Policy Committee on Wednesday asked the Legislature for $15 million next year to help it advance road work in town.
State and city road planners have a number of road projects in mind: reconstruction of much of South Cushman Street and a transition to two-way traffic for Cushman and Barnette streets near the Chena River.
“With construction inflation rates rising, it is important to have flexible state funding to keep our basic infrastructure projects moving forward,” the group’s chairman, regional state transportation director Steve Titus, wrote in the request.
The request, if approved, would provide a boost in Fairbanks’ “flexible” spending allowance from past years. Titus wrote that the money, if approved, would help local governments address major projects, some of them new and some long-discussed. He said it also would help fulfill “critical” improvements to downtown, some of which were included in a downtown revitalization plan approved by borough officials this fall.
Contact staff writer Christopher Eshleman at 459-7582.
Community Discussion
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I agree that there isn't much hope for downtown Fairbanks, but it sounds like some of this money will be used to reconstruct South Cushman, which is direly needed.
SOUTH SIDE
Transition Cushman and Barnette to 2-way traffic? WTF? What do you think they were before they were changed to one-way traffic to "alleviate" the congestion at that time? More money? NO!!! Flexible spending? NO!! How about tighter control on the current budget and get rid of the employees who aren't really earning their paychecks as we speak? Cut down on studies and meetings and "supervisory" positions. Everyone with a desk job needs to spend 2 days out of 5 each week out side on the road crew actually contributing hands-on labor instead of pencil pushing and sipping coffee. Even a child stands to lose part of his/her allowance if they don't spend it wisely and put part of it in savings! Start giving us real value and real results for our dollars, then we'll talk again. In the mean time you are on probation and being scrutinized closely!
Let's just get rid of downtown Fairbanks. We can make WalMart the new city center.
Easy access. Lots of free parking. Everything that a person needs is right there, within a few blocks.
We could have our "Super Council" meetings, previously known as City Council meetings, at Barnes&Noble. Chili's for formal occasions. Carls's Jr. as the cultural mecca (as in the movie "Idiotocracy"). We got it all, right there at one convenient location. To hell with downtown.
Of course, we'll probably need to change the city's name. How about Greasy Crap, AK.?
NO,NO,NO...Sourdough...I think what we Really need to do is set up Toll Bridges on the one-way streets...maybe that would satisfy Strle..then we could be a BIG CITY too. Then she could lay off the sales tax and put on her little fanny pack and collect her money one Quarter at a time!!!! In the meantime, I moved up here 45 years ago believing it was the "last Frontier" ..Stupid me....I thought those of us who had good intentions would work together and have a good life. I am SO disappointed!! What has happened to us since the oil hit??
The state is simply wasting more money. First we have another bridge downtown when there is no reason to go there anymore. Plans that were made 30 years ago my need to be changed, but the state won't see that.
The plan for South Cushman is now to put in BIKE lanes, nothing for more traffic. It is another waste of money. The area doesn't need that, just fix the road.
I agree -- overkill.
Leave Cushman and Barnette one-way streets, and keep the accident-rate and government money-squaundering down.
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Point of the cushman/barnette work is to prepare for the changes that are coming. They are going to build a new bridge and try to open up the traffic that bottlenecks in that area. South Cushman also DESPERATELY needs the re-work too.
I hope they get the financing
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