1992-29 Requesting Reclassification of the Chiniak Highway to a Category Two State Highway and Reinstatement of the Second Maintenance Position for the Chiniak Highway.KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. 92 -29
Introduced by: Mayor Selby
Requested by: Assembly
Drafted by: Mayor Selby
Introduced: 07/02/92
Adopted: 07/02/92
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING RECLASSIFICATION OF THE CHINIAK HIGHWAY
TO A CATEGORY TWO STATE HIGHWAY AND REINSTATEMENT OF
THE SECOND MAINTENANCE POSITION FOR THE CHINIAK HIGHWAY
WHEREAS, the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
recently decided to reduce the amount of maintenance delivered in the
Kodiak Island Borough; and
WHEREAS, these reductions have resulted in one maintenance position being
responsible for the maintenance of approximately 70 lane miles of the
highway; and
WHEREAS, it is impossible for one person to maintain 70 miles of roadway,
particularly in the winter; and
WHEREAS, two school buses are required to use the Chiniak Highway twice each
day, to transport high school students to the high school and return
them home each evening and transport elementary students to the
Chiniak School and return them home each afternoon; and
WHEREAS, emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and law enforcement, would
potentially be unable to use this roadway at various times due to reduced
maintenance; and
WHEREAS, many other commercial vehicles also would be unable to use the
roadway on a frequent basis during the winter time. These include
Kodiak Electric Association vehicles to restore electric power, oil delivery
vehicles necessary for delivering home heating fuel, U.S. Postal Service
contract vehicles and other delivery services. Many individuals utilizing
the road for tourist activities and those individuals utilizing the road for
daily commuting would be negatively impacted; and
WHEREAS, the decision to reduce the amount of maintenance for the Chiniak
Highway is an extremely poor decision which creates a very dangerous
transportation hazard in the Kodiak Island Borough, which is
unacceptable to the residents of the Kodiak Island Borough; and
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. 92 -29
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WHEREAS, the constant concern for the safety of our children, winter driving
conditions, and the Department of Education regulation 4 AAC 27.010
(a) (2) that states the entire route for such transportation services is over
regularly maintained roads, having at least a gravel surface, which are
under the supervision of all weather maintenance of the Alaska
Department of Highways, a public utility district, a municipality, or a
borough service area; and
WHEREAS, the liability resulting from any accidents which may occur on the Chiniak
Highway will be greatly increased for the State of Alaska as a result of
this decision;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND
BOROUGH THAT:
Section 1: The State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
is requested to upgrade the Chiniak Highway to a category two highway
which more accurately reflects its actual utilization;
Section 2: The maintenance position, which has been eliminated for the Chiniak
Highway, is requested to be reinstated since year -round maintenance is
required to assure the safety of our citizens.
Section 3: The State of Alaska is hereby on notice that they are totally responsible
for any accidents which occur on this roadway with school buses,
emergency vehicles, or private automobiles due to road conditions
resulting from this lack of maintenance.
ATTEST: •
Borough Clerk
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 2nd DAY OF JULY 1992.
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
esiding Offic
Resolution No. 92 -29
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