Alaska Richardson Steese Highways Corridor Action Plan

The   Final Plan   is now available. Click below to view the Final Plan.

For questions or more information about the plan, please contact:

Danielle Tessen

Public Information Officer (Acting) , DOT&PF

 danielle.tessen@alaska.gov 

The   Final Plan   contains the most current narrative about the project and supersedes that presented below.

Kinross' Manh Choh project proposes to transport ore extracted from their Manh Choh mine near Tok to their Fort Knox mill north of Fairbanks for processing. Ore haul operations are expected to begin in 2024 and continue year-round for four to five years. As proposed, the ore haul will make approximately 60 roundtrips daily utilizing purpose-built trucks on a route that includes segments of State-maintained roads, including segments of the Alaska, Richardson, and Steese Highways (see map below).

The Alaska/Richardson/Steese Highway Corridor Action Plan (A/R/S CAP) will analyze the impacts and potential implications of the proposed ore haul operations to roadway infrastructure and safety.

The State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) solicited a project consultant team to prepare the A/R/S CAP. Kinney Engineering, LLC is managing the overall effort and plan development, and providing engineering and technical analyses, GIS mapping, and public involvement. Agnew::Beck Consulting is supporting the efforts by facilitating the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) work sessions, and providing socio-economic analyses and literature reviews of agency plans and policies.

The corridor study area is approximately 247 miles of roadway and includes segments of the Alaska, Richardson, and Steese Highways. From south to north, the corridor begins south of Tok on the Alaska Highway at its intersection with Tetlin Access Road, continues via the Richardson Highway from Delta Junction to Fairbanks, and through Fairbanks via the Steese Expressway, and ends north of Fairbanks at the intersection of the Steese Highway and Fort Knox Access Road.

The   Final Plan   contains the most current narrative about the A/R/S CAP and supersedes that presented below

• Analyze safety, congestion, maintenance, and environmental concerns related to increased corridor usage.
• Identify potential study area gaps in transportation safety and mobility along the corridor.
• Recommend policy goals and investment priorities/opportunities.
• Provide recommendations on needs, infrastructure improvements, route alternatives, additional studies or analyses needed, policy or law changes, and funding/partnership opportunities to help develop projects recommended in this study.

The A/R/S CAP will document existing conditions of the corridor; evaluate short, mid, and long-term plans for the corridor; incorporate public input; and provide recommendations for transportation solutions for identified issues.

For more details about the scope of work for the project, click on the button below.

Engagement opportunities are critical to building community trust and for ensuring the A/R/S CAP considers the interests and concerns of the communities along the corridor. The A/R/S CAP will include several engagement opportunities through its development.

The engagement activities and outreach methods described below are designed to share information as well as provide a means for receiving continuous input on evolving ideas and concerns related to the corridor and the planning process.

The   Final Plan   contains the most current narrative about the TAC and supersedes that presented below.

The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) is an advisory group that includes representatives from communities and user groups along the corridor, local and Tribal governments, state and federal agencies, Army and Air Force installations, emergency fire and rescue entities, and advocacy groups. DOT&PF will support the TAC by providing resources as requested and guidance on regulatory processes. The TAC:

• Acts in an advisory/non-voting capacity, providing input on all project activities and products.
• Provides feedback on analysis and makes recommendations.
• Assists in obtaining relevant information from representative organizations.
• Helps with relevant information from representative organizations.
• Provides recommendations on public involvement tools and suggests community and other stakeholder activities/events for garnering input.
• Works productively with other advisory committee members, project staff, and partners even when experiences and opinions may differ.
• Guides the frequency and content of TAC meetings, as needed, to discuss findings.

 CLICK HERE  to learn more about TAC roles, responsibilities, and process.

• Meeting Frequency – The TAC will meet approximately once every two months to review and provide feedback on draft CAP content and process.
• Compliance with Open Meetings Act (public notice and participation) – TAC meetings/work sessions will comply with the  Open Meetings Act (OMA)  to provide adequate notice to include meeting dates, times, agendas/related materials, how members of the public can participate, and documentation of meeting outcomes. Specifically:
  • TAC meeting agendas will be posted to the project website at least five business days prior to the TAC meeting/work session.
  • At each TAC Work Session, the project consultant team will review the A/R/S CAP Objectives and how the public can participate in the A/R/S CAP process. The same information will be clearly and consistently posted on the project website.

TAC meeting summaries, recordings, and related materials will be posted on the website approximately 10-15 business days following the meeting.

•  11-16-23 Meeting Notes 
•  11-16-23 Meeting Agenda 
•  11-16-23 TAC Work Session Recording 

•  10-19-23 Meeting Notes 
•  10-19-23 Meeting Agenda 
•  10-19-23 TAC Work Session Recording 

•  10-12-23 Meeting Notes 
•  10-12-23 Meeting Agenda 
•  10-12-23 TAC Work Session Recording 

•  10-05-23 Meeting Notes 
•  10-05-23 Meeting Agenda 
•  10-05-23 TAC Work Session Recording 

•  9-14-23 Meeting Notes 
•  9-14-23 Meeting Agenda 
•  9-14-23 Meeting Slides: Impacts-Issues-Alternatives Part 1, Intro & Traffic Safety 
•  9-14-23 Meeting Slides: Impact Category Part 2, Traffic Operations (revised edition) 
•  9-14-23 Meeting Slides: Impact Category Part 3, Maintenance & Operations (revised edition) 
•  9-14-23 Meeting Slides: Impact Category Part 4, Assets (revised edition) 
•  9-14-23 Meeting Slides: Impact Category Part 5, Environmental (revised edition) 
•  9-14-23 TAC Work Session Recording 

•  8-03-23 Meeting Notes 
•  8-03-23 Meeting Agenda 
•  8-03-23 TAC Follow-Up Discussion Recording 

•  7-26-23 Meeting Notes 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Agenda 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Slides: Agenda A, B, Schedule 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Slides: Agenda C1 TAC Roles, Responsibilities, Process 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Slides: Agenda C2 Reponses to May16 TAC Questions 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Slides: Agenda D1&2 Public Involvement Update 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Slides: Agenda E STIP 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Slides: Agenda F Bridges 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Slides: Agenda G1 O&M Costs 
•  7-26-23 Meeting Slides: Agenda G2 Bus Stop Analysis 
•  7-26-23 TAC Work Session Recording – Morning  
•  7-26-23 TAC Work Session Recording – Afternoon 

•  5-16-23 Meeting Notes 
•  5-16-23 Meeting Slides Part 1: Agenda A, B, partial C, D, F 
•  5-16-23 Meeting Slides Part 2: Agenda B TAC Q&R 
•  5-16-23 Meeting Slides Part 3: TAC Questions 
•  5-16-23 Meeting Slides Part 4: Agenda E1 Predictive 
•  5-16-23 Meeting Slides Part 5: Agenda E2 Rural 
•  5-16-23 Meeting Slides Part 6: Agenda E2 Urban 
•  5-16-23 Meeting Slides Part 7: Agenda E3 Bridges 
•  5-16-23 Meeting Recording Vimeo 

•  3-21-23 Meeting Notes 
•  3-21-23 Engineering Analysis Presentation 
•  3-21-23 Meeting Slides Part A 
•  3-21-23 Meeting Slides Part B 
•  3-21-23 DRAFT Roles & Responsibilities Discussion Slides 
•  3-21-23 Meeting Recording on Vimeo 

•  1-26-23 Meeting Notes 

•  10-31-22 Meeting Notes 

•  5-26-22 Meeting Notes 

•  5-9-22 Meeting Notes 

• TAC Work Sessions were conducted beginning in late 2022 through November 2023.
• The Draft Plan was released for public review and comment at the beginning of April.
• Public Meetings were held in Fairbanks, Delta Junction, and Tok, once the Draft A/R/S CAP at the end of April/beginning of May following the release of the Draft Plan.
• The final A/R/S CAP incorporates and addresses the public’s review and comments to the Draft Plan.

The   Final Plan   contains the most current narrative about the project resources and supersedes that presented below.

•  Kinney Engineering Scope of Services 
•  TAC Roles, Responsibilities, & Process 

•  Manh Choh Twin Road Traffic Impact Analysis Report 
•  Ore Truck Diagram 
•  Bridge inspection summary on Proposed Route  (data current through 2022)
  •  Explanation of columns in CSV file 
  •  Extracted from public information 
•  Performance History - LTBP InfoBridge Searchable Dashboard 
•  Public Review Draft Plan 

Click the "FINAL PLAN" button below to view the final plan and appendices.

For questions or more information about the plan, please contact:

Danielle Tessen

Public Information Officer (Acting) , DOT&PF

 danielle.tessen@alaska.gov 

Thank you for your time and interest in the project.