By Rob Cone-Clark
Turnagain Times Whittier Correspondent
Whittier City Manager Mark Earnest has produced a status report for a list of 14 projects initiated by the city council, zoning commission and staff. The following is a summary of those programs as provided by Earnest.
Head of Passage Canal/Billings Pass Trail
This project consists of reconnaissance, survey and design for the Head of Passage/Billings Pass Trails system. It is largely funded through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Trails Initiative, U.S. Forest Service and with cash and in-kind contributions from the City. The project is currently at the reconnaissance / preliminary design phase is fully funded with $65,000. The City has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the USFS to conduct the work with a phase completion date of December 2009.
Head of Passage Canal Upland Development Design
This project consists of engineering design services for the development of Passage Canal uplands. It is funded through the U. S. Dept of Commerce, Economic Development Administration and the State of Alaska. Conceptual design, site survey and bathymetry have been completed. Geotechnical investigation coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently underway. Pre-design, Environmental documentation / Permitting, Plans, Specification and Estimates, Construction bid documents and Construction Bidding are all funded with $1,072,334 but not yet started. Construction components consisting of tractor launches, shuttle busses, toll booths, maintenance facility and other materials are funded but not yet purchased. Estimated completion date for this project is December 2010.
Head of Passage Canal Navigation Improvements
This navigation improvements study examines the development of additional harbor facilities in Passage Canal. The project is funded by a combination of agencies including the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the City of Whittier, the State of Alaska and with others providing in-kind services. A Reconnaissance Study has been completed and the project is at the Feasibility Study phase and is roughly 50 percent funded with $690,000.
Shakespeare Creek Fishing Lagoon and Recreational Access
This project consists of constructing a fishing lagoon at the Head of Passage Canal near the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The project is in the conceptual design phase and is funded with $10,000 from the City's general fund and the Commercial Vessel Passenger Tax. Additional project phases and costs will be developed as part of the conceptual design phase.
Whittier Small Boat Harbor
This project consists of: East Boat Ramp Replacement, Float System Replacement, Sheet Pile Harbor Expansion, The Whittier Marine Center and The West Harbor Basin Armor Rock Replacement. Different project components are at different stages of development. The Marine Center is in conceptual design, The East Boat Ramp Replacement has been completed and construction bid documents are being assembled for the other components. There is $7,349,000 in existing funding and $13 million in required future funding. Funding sources include: Alaska Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities Transfer of Responsibility Agreement bonds, Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, Denali Commission and revenue bonds.
Visitor Center/Museum and Harborfront Enhancements
This project consists of a pedestrian bridge across Whittier Creek, a visitor center with museum, a waterfront boardwalk including interpretive signs with benches and new public restrooms. The project is in the conceptual design phase and is funded with $45,000 from the City's Commercial Vessel Passenger Tax Fund. Additional costs and phases will be developed as part of the conceptual design process.
Shotgun Cove Road development
The Shotgun Cove Road project is a multi-phase undertaking by the City of Whittier in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and Chugach Alaska Corporation. The project will provide access to city lands located near Shotgun Cove as well as improve access to existing private lots located within the first one-half mile of road.
Phase I is divided into three segments encompassing the construction of nearly two miles of road. To date, segment I of phase I has been completed and includes: 0.63 miles of 24 foot wide gravel roadway with 4 foot gravel shoulders, a 65 foot long concrete bridge, an 8 foot wide separated multiuse path, parking lot, recreational area with gazebo, bar-b-que grills and bathrooms.
Segment II of phase I is in the process of assembling construction bid documents and includes: road construction to mile 1.95 (Emerald Cove), scenic pullouts, parking and recreational facilities at the Emerald Bay Trailhead. This segment has $9.5 million in existing funding.
Segment III of phase I involves realignment and reconstruction of existing asphalt roads up to the already constructed Segment I roadbed.
Phase II extends the terminus of Phase I near the Emerald Bay trailhead to U.S. Forest Service lands at Trinity Point. The estimated total cost of this project component $14.1 million. Phase II is in the Environmental Documentation / Pre-Design stage and $1 million in future funding is needed to complete the documentation to federal standards.
Whittier Creek Hydroelectric Project
This project consists of the construction of hydroelectric generation facilities on Whittier Creek. The project is in the reconnaissance phase and is funded through the Alaska Energy nAuthority, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Whittier with $85,000.
City of Whittier Boat Haulout Study
The City of Whittier is seeking to encourage the development of a boat maintenance facility at the Head of Passage Canal as part of a long term development plan. The City has contracted with PND Engineers to prepare a summary of boat haulout equipment and their associated costs.
The PND report includes information on tractor launches, self-propelled trailer lifts and hoist lifts. It mentions the need for boat washdown water containment and treatment facilities in order to meet current regulations. It also recommends a feasibility study and the development of a business plan prior to significant investment.
There are currently several boat haulout options in Whittier, but none at the Head of Passage Canal. The 2005 City of Whittier Comprehensive Plan calls for development at the Head of Passage Canal.
Harbor Moorage Rate Study
The City of Whittier has signed an agreement with the economic analysis firm Northern Economics, relating to the small boat harbor. The City has requested a study of current moorage rates, past financials, past audits, wait-lists, Corps of Engineer surveys, moorage tenant numbers and improvement plan costs estimates.
Harbormaster Ed Barrett says,” This study will help us develop a viable business plan for the Harbor Enterprise fund. We need to show financial sustainability in operations and maintenance projected thirty years into the future. We can then issue revenue bonds or secure Municipal Harbor Facility Grants from the State of Alaska.”
Whittier is an extremely popular port, offering marine access less than one hour south of Anchorage. The small boat harbor's moorage is fully occupied and has a waiting list over five hundred vessels long.
Despite this high demand, the current rates have proven insufficient to cover costs. As a result, high utilization actually had a negative effect on the harbors infrastructure.
