The Federal Highway Administration has now responded to Government Hill Community Council President Bob French’s letter asking what authority FHWA had to release $15 million Right of Way funds for an unfunded project. French’s letter noted that the FHWA’s form which released the ROW funds described the ROW monies as “advanced construction.” French then noted that both the Anchorage Assembly and the Long Range Transportation Plan stated that:
- Construction was not to be started until “complete funding package is secured” and “the project design has been submitted for review”
- No further state and local funds for the Bridge.
The Knik Bridge project has yet to be financed by either the private sector or the Alaskan legislature. Yet, KABATA has sent letters (see 9/22/11 post below) requiring that property owners grant access to their property for acquiring appraisals as a first step toward the state acquiring the land for the project by sale or eminent domain.
Rather than directly respond to French’s contention that the project has neither financing or any evidence of meeting the condition of the local unit of government’s conditions and FHWA-accepted Transportation Plan, the FHWA response laughably argues that the public should have commented on the Right of Way acquisition funds in the 2009 revision of the Statewide Transportation and Improvement Program. Click here to view the French letter and Click here to view the FHWA response.
