I, Bill Walker, Governor of the State of Alaska, under the authority of Article III, Sections 1 and 24, Constitution of the Alaska, and AS 44.19.145(c), establish the Governor’s Advisory Board on Roads and Highways (Board).
Background
The Legislature has established the Aviation Advisory Board (AS 44.42.200) and a Marine Transportation Advisory Board (AS 19.65.110) to advise the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on public policy related to aviation functions assigned by law and to consider and report on matters related to the Alaska Marine Highway System. Although helpful in advising on their respective subjects, there is not a similar advisory board to offer recommendations related to Alaska’s roads and highways. I find an advisory board in this area would offer useful advisory information to the Governor and the Commissioner of Transportation and Public Facilities.
Purpose
The purpose of the Board is to provide recommendations to the Governor and the Commissioner of Transportation and Public Facilities on public policy related to the Department’s powers and duties with respect to State highway functions as requested by the Governor. The Board’s areas of focus include:
- highway construction – impacts, methods, efficiencies, and related matters;
- equipment use – construction, maintenance, operations, and related matters;
- deferred maintenance – coordination, process improvement, public outreach, and related matters;
- capital spending – coordination, process improvement, public outreach, and related matters; and
- identification of other critical needs in the State’s road and highway transportation infrastructure.
Membership
The Board consists of seven public members who are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Public seats are not specifically assigned, but, to the extent possible, public members should be seated to provide geographic diversity and attempt to represent as many of the following constituencies as practicable:
- the commercial trucking industry
- the highway related travel or tourism industry;
- the heavy construction industry;
- municipal planning organizations or road service areas;
- urban areas;
- rural or tribal areas; and
- other constituencies the Governor deems appropriate.
The Board shall elect a member to serve as chair.
Initial appointments: Three public seats will expire two years from the effective date of this Order; the other four public seats will expire four years from the effective date of this Order. All seats will have four-year terms thereafter.
A nonvoting representative of the Department will be assigned to this Board by the Commissioner of the Department to provide background and technical support.
Administration
Meetings of the Board must comply with AS 44.62.310 – 44.62.319 (Open Meetings Act). The Board also may hold public hearings and request information from the public and other interested persons necessary to carry out its advisory functions. All records of the Board are subject to AS 40.25.100 – 40.25.295 (Alaska Public Records Act).
The Department will provide the administrative support to the Board.
The Board may set operating procedures as bylaws and establish workgroups as it considers appropriate. A majority of appointed members of the Board constitutes a quorum for conducting business.
The Board shall hold meetings quarterly, at the call of the chair, or at the call of three members. Meetings of the Board or Board committees may be held telephonically or by video conference.
Members of the Board do not receive compensation for their services on the Board, but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized for State boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180. Every effort shall be made to use video and telephone conferencing to the maximum extent possible to minimize travel expenses.
This Order does not limit or modify any existing statutory of regulatory authority of any State agency; nor does it affect any third-party rights or obligations. This Order does not affect laws or policies on federal funding for State transportation projects.
In this Order,
- “Department” means the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities;
- “roads and highways” means State highways, but does not include any roads or highways within the boundaries of a rural or international airport or any part of the Alaska Marine Highway System.
The Governor’s Advisory Board on Roads and Highways expires on June 1, 2020.
This Order takes effect immediately.
DATED at Juneau, Alaska, this 7th day of September, 2017.
/s/Bill Walker
Governor
