What is H2H?
Has a route been picked ?
What is the NEPA process? What happens during this phase?
What is the schedule?
How much will H2H cost and who’s funding the project?
Where did H2H come from?
How is the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) involved?
How is the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
involved?
How is the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) involved?
What is the Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) and who is on it?
What is the CHUAC?
How can I participate in this project?
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What is H2H?
The FHWA and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities in cooperation with the Municipality of Anchorage, propose to improve the connection between the Seward and Glenn Highways (State Route Number 1) in Anchorage. The facilities needing improvement are part of the National Highway System (NHS) and are designated as Interstate Highway Routes. The H2H improvements are considered necessary to address capacity, travel demand, safety, and system linkage to major destinations and freight mobility on the existing Seward Highway and Glenn Highway NHS routes. These NHS routes provide access to major employment centers in downtown and midtown Anchorage and major intermodal port, rail, and airport facilities. The project study area, alternatives, and termini for the project will be determined through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
Has a route been picked for H2H?
No. The project alternatives will be established during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. During that process all reasonable alternatives will be examined in more detail. The route presented in the LRTP is based on planning-level information and will be refined with additional engineering, environmental analysis, and public input.
What is the NEPA Process? What happens during this phase?
The NEPA process examines existing conditions of the natural and man-made environment and analyzes future direct, secondary, and cumulative effects of the project on those resources. Preliminary engineering is also done during this time to ensure that the project can be built, and to develop enough project detail to evaluate the environmental impacts.
What is the schedule?
Public and agency scoping meetings for the project will occur later this summer and fall. The NEPA process, including writing the Environmental Impact Statement will take place over the next three years. Construction is anticipated to start between 2013 and 2015.
How much will H2H cost and who’s funding the project?
According to the 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan, the cost was anticipated to be $581 million in 2005 dollars. Cost estimates will be updated as part of the project development process. Currently, funding is coming from the state and the federal-aid program for the National Highway System. The project could, however, be funded through a number of different sources. Cost estimates and funding strategies will be thoroughly researched as part of the project development process.
Where did H2H come from?
Connecting the Seward Highway to the Glenn Highway was discussed as early as the 1972 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). In 2001 the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS) initiated the East Anchorage Study of Transportation (EAST). The EAST study concluded that connecting the Seward and Glenn Highways was essential to solving traffic congestion in Anchorage. When AMATS embarked on a new LRTP, the Seward Highway to Glenn Highway Connection (H2H) project was included and adopted in 2005 as part of the 2025 Anchorage Bowl Long Range Transportation Plan.
How is the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) involved?
Under the process used for federally funded highway projects, FHWA is the lead agency, responsible for ensuring that environmental documents are prepared in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations and is responsible for evaluating and approving the documentation of the process. FHWA is a member of the Executive Oversight Committee.
How is the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) involved?
The H2H project will be an element of the National Highway System. ADOT&PF, as a joint lead agency, has the responsibility and authority for constructing and maintaining the National Highway System (NHS) in Alaska. Under that authority, DOT&PF is responsible for managing development of project documents. DOT&PF is a member of the Executive Oversight Committee.
How is the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) involved?
The MOA has special expertise and authorities that will be important considerations for the H2H project development including responsibility and authority with respect to:
- Land use planning and zoning
- Municipally-owned facilities and streets
- Municipal services such as police, emergency, social, etc.
- Municipally-owned transit
Because of these areas of special expertise, the MOA will be a cooperating agency and will also work with the project team developing information and preparing environmental analyses. MOA is a member of the Executive Oversight Committee.
What is the Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) and who is on it?
The EOC provides an opportunity for a collaborative approach to share information amongst the three government agencies overseeing the project. The Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) is composed of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) Central Regional Director, The Mayor of the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), and the Alaska Division Administrator for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Each agency brings unique expertise, authority, and responsibilities to the project. The EOC will provide an unprecedented (in Alaska) coordination and consultation opportunity to identify issues, provide resources and authority, and to coordinate those resources to ensure a successful project.
What is the CHUAC?
The Citizens Highway User Advisory Committee (CHUAC) is one of many tools that will be used during the H2H project to provide public input into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The CHUAC is not a decision-making body. Project decisions will be made by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through the NEPA process.
How can I participate in this project?
There will be many opportunities for public participation in the project throughout the NEPA process. Check this website frequently for upcoming events. Sign up for the E-newsletter. If you would like to comment, visit our comment page. Or contact us!
