AMHS Level of Service Framework Overview (DRAFT)

IMPORTANT: This StoryMap is a work in progress and is not complete.

Welcome to the AMHS Service Level StoryMap. A  StoryMap  is an online, interactive mapping tool that will help to inform and develop a level of service framework that will guide future decision making. This tool highlights characteristics of Alaskan port communities served by AMHS. Have fun exploring and if you have a question or comment, please fill out our  feedback form .

The  Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS)  serves as a vital mode of transportation for several coastal communities. Over the past several years, AMHS has suffered various setbacks due to issues such as funding, fleet condition, and difficulty hiring and retaining employees. This has significantly impacted the communities the marine highway system serves.

With recent announcements by the  Federal Transit Administration (FTA) , and with the  Governor's  budget support, the  Commissioner  of the  Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF)  is optimistic about opportunities to modernize Alaska's fleet and improve service and reliability ^[ 1 ] .

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) Long-Range Plan (LRP) is a guidebook for investment through the next twenty years, setting a vision for service in 2045 and identifying incremental investments in the short-, medium-, and long-term to achieve that vision. The ferry service provided by AMHS is a lifeline to many otherwise isolated coastal communities – reliant on ferry service for transportation of people, goods, and services. In addition to providing important transportation connections for Alaskan residents, good health of the ferry system promotes local and international economic opportunity.

The development and vision for these investments is informed by the priorities and needs of the Alaskans that use and depend on the marine highway system for connections to goods and services, such as medical, social, cultural, and recreation. This LRP will outline foundational service for Alaskan communities and guide investments in infrastructure, workforce, and its supportive framework to provide safe and reliable service. The LRP will identify the long-term vision and provide incremental investment, policy, and tools needed to realize that vision. Phase 1 of the LRP will focus on the next three years, while the final document will encompass an over twenty-year planning horizon from 2023 to 2045.

The term "Level of Service" is frequently used in transportation planning projects but can have varying definitions based on the mode of transportation or setup of the system. For the purposes of AMHS planning, the term "Level of Service" refers to the number of port calls that each community receives from AMHS vessels on an annual and seasonal basis.

As part of the DOT&PF's long-range planning efforts, a level of service framework is in development to inform planning of future resources. To do so, each port community served by AMHS will be assessed based on a set of community characteristics.

The Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board (AMHOB) was established under  AS 19.65.100 . The board is comprised of the deputy commissioner of transportation and public facilities and eight additional members with relevant experience. In order to best serve Alaskans, the Alaska Legislature created the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board (AMHOB). The board is comprised of past AMHS employees as well as community members with relevant experience. The purpose of the board is to provide recommendations regarding the  Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) . To learn more about AMHOB, visit the board's  official website .

During AMHOB's April 2023 meeting, members decided upon a set of community characteristics with which to assess each individual community. A few of these are:

• Population size
• Access to Grocery
• Access to Medical Facilities
• Road Access
• Air Service
• Barge Service
• Food Security Index
• Access to Schooling
• Access to Vehicle Repair
• Cost of Living

The following characteristics were identified as being relevant to the Level of Service framework. Please note that these characteristics and maps are under development. If you see an issue with the data presented, please provide feedback by clicking  here. 

In an effort to address the potential for service disruptions,  Governor Dunleavy  issued Administrative Order No. 334 establishing the Alaska Food Security and Independence Taskforce. According to the order, the goals of the Order were to "increase food security, strengthen local economies, and lessen Alaska's dependence on external foods and supply chains." ^[ 2 ] 

As a result of this Order, a  website  was created detailing  existing resources  and  task force recommendations . In 2023, a comprehensive  final report  was released by the  University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)  and the  Alaska Food Policy Council .

Data in the map below depicts food security values provided by  County Health Rankings .

Title VI of the Civil RIghts Act of 1964 states:

In addition to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Alaska DOT&PF has also created a Title VI Nondiscrimination Program, which expands the protection of services beyond race, color, and national origin:

As the AMHS Long-Range Plan is developed, community needs will continue to be assessed to inform a Level of Service framework. Based on community need, target levels of service can be assigned to each community in the system. These target levels will then be used to inform Long-Range Plan decisions regarding fleet, workforce, and budget.