An Alaska Marine Highway ferry docked in Skagway. (Emily Files)
Skagway is wondering why they’re getting a fifth of the funding that Haines is to prepare their ferry docks for the new Alaska Class ferries.
They’re worried they won’t be able to use the vessels as designed because the state isn’t giving them enough money to upgrade their dock.
The Skagway Assembly takes issue with the level of funding the state is providing them to refurbish their ferry dock.
“I just find this a crazy plan the state has dreamed up here,” Assembly member Orion Hanson says.
With a price tag topping $100 million, two new ferries are supposed to start serving Upper Lynn Canal in 2019. In preparation, Haines and Skagway are getting money to make their docks compatible with the new boats. The money comes from the federal government for state transportation improvements, called STIP funding.
According to the state’s draft plan, Haines is getting almost $26 million dollars to re-model their float so boats can moor perpendicularly, and “end berth”: vehicles can drive on from the stern, and drive off through the bow. It’s more efficient than pulling boats up parallel to the dock.
But Skagway is set to receive a fifth of that, $5.5 million, to modify their ferry float — with no capacity for end berthing.
According to John Walsh, Skagway’s lobbyist, the state plans to have one ferry run from Haines to Juneau and the other run between Haines and Skagway. Because the Haines to Skagway route is so quick, maximum efficiency — and therefore end loading — isn’t necessary.
The Skagway Assembly has long taken issue with that plan. For one, passengers and cars leaving Skagway would have to ferry to Haines, disembark, and board a second boat to Juneau. That’s not ideal, Hanson says.
“We’re not okay with this double ferry cockamamie plan that the state’s throwing out there, that we’re going to have to get on two different ferries to go to Juneau,” he says. “That’s crazy.”
Skagway’s ferry dock is also near the end of its life. The whole thing sank three years ago, but was dredged up. Borough manager Scott Hahn says a band-aid fix is a poor use of money.
“Refurbishment would only give you another five to ten years. It makes no sense to do that and then, turn around in five to ten years to build another one,” he says. “So they should just build it right from the start, and we’ll get thirty years of service. If the state’s concerned about spending the money properly, they should be looking at that issue.”
According to Walsh, Skagway needs a multi-purpose dock that could moor boats at the side and at the ends. They want their float to be compatible with both ferries, so they can still get service if the Haines-to-Skagway ferry is canceled for mechanical or other issues.
Hanson seemed to sum up Assembly sentiment.
“So, the STIP that they’re putting out here for our ferry float, I think we continue to reject that and say we want a new ferry float that has end berthing capabilities for the new ferries that are coming up to the Upper Lynn Canal,” he says. “That’s what these ferries were made for.”
Mayor Monica Carlson was in Juneau for the regional Southeast Conference. She met with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and John Walsh to discuss the state’s plan for the dock.
“We spoke for quite some time about the replacement versus refurbishment,” she says. “We left the meeting cautiously optimistic that we will get full replacement.”
The Assembly has until March 16 to officially comment on the state’s funding proposal. They discussed having a letter drafted to review and send at their next meeting.
