Mr. Gordon Keith, Regional Director
Central Region DOT/PF
PO Box 196900
Anchorage, AK 99519

August 8, 2006

Dear Mr. Keith,

On behalf of the people of Willow I officially request that you include a bike/pedestrian path in the final design and construction plans for the Parks Highway MP 72-83 rehabilitation project from Willow Creek to Kashwitna River.

There are a number of homes on and near that section of highway and many of those include children. More homes are expected in the near future as the population of Willow is growing at a fast pace. 1990 census put us at about 900 people. 2000 census documents us at about 2500 people, a growth of more than 277%. If the rate of growth has continued at this same pace, our census now approaches 3500. According to a recent Anchorage Daily News article, Mat-Su borough officials expect an explosion of growth here as the Point McKenzie to Parks Highway rail and road corridor continues development. It seems ridiculous that a bike/pedestrian path was not put into the plans long before this.

Many of us remember that in years past the use of federal monies for roads demanded the inclusion of a bike path in every road construction and rehab project. Were we wrong to assume that federal money was being used for this Parks project? It would be amazing if federal money was not involved in some way. Our past exposure to this fact and the presumption that federal money was being used lulled us into not acting sooner. Nonetheless we do expect that the needs of the Willow area community will be honored and that this bike/pedestrian path will be added to the plans in plenty of time to be included in the actual construction.

Feel free to contact me for further information in support of our request.
Sincerely,
Linda Oxley, Chair
cc:
Senator Charles Huggins
Rep Mark Neuman
Borough Mayor John Duffy

We understand your desire for a separated pathway. The pathway would cost $2 million. Although $2 million is not a lot of money, it is difficult to justify the expenditure on a pathway versus meeting the needs of our main highway system. Perhaps the addition of a pathway would be something local legislators could consider as a state funded project.