EDITOR, Daily News:
Over the past few years, funding for the Alaska Marine Highway System budget has drastically decreased and instead, there is an increased need to use revenue from passenger receipts to fund ferry operations. Despite relying more on passenger revenue, the system is harming itself by creating situations that make it difficult to receive more revenue. Uncertainty in funding and using the AMHS as a political football has affected the stability of the system, which directly impacts scheduling and the potential for revenue to be generated.
The AMHS Fund is comprised primarily of passenger receipt revenue and, along with Unrestricted General Funds, is appropriated to pay for operations. It has been drawn down year after year without much chance to recover. In fiscal year 2019, the last year before AMHS was dealt a lethal cut, ferry passenger receipts generated $50.8 million in revenue. In FY20 the system generated $28.2 million, and in FY21 it is expected to generate $
KETCHIKAN (KDN) â Eight total cases of COVID-19 â with two cases involving crewmembers on an Alaska Marine Highway System vessel â were reported by the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center on Monday.
Ketchikan Charter School s main building will be closed for in-person learning on Tuesday after a positive COVID-19 case was identified involving an individual connected to the school.
According to a late afternoon press release from the EOC, the two cases involving individuals onboard the AMHS vessel Matanuska were reported on Sunday. One of those individuals is quarantining in Ketchikan hotel, and the other is quarantining at home in Juneau, according to AMHS information.
The former Alaska Marine Highway System fast ferries Fairweather and Chenega will not leave Ketchikan until April 23 at the earliest due to material and logistical problems, a member of the Ward Cove Group confirmed on Friday.
The Ward Cove Group has overseen some aspects of the transfer under the direction of the owners of the vessels, member Stephen Bradford explained in a Friday afternoon phone interview with the Daily News.
The Alaska Department of Transportation on March 10 agreed to the sale of the ferries to the Spanish company Servicios y Concesiones Maritimas Ibicencas S.A., for a combined $5.17 million. The company is based on the Spanish island of Ibiza, in the Mediterranean Sea.
Infrastructure plan offers hope for Alaska’s economy, workers Author: Ivy Spohnholz Published 2 hours ago
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Print article There has been a lot of news coverage in Alaska recently about the Biden administration’s actions related to the oil industry. One might think, based on that coverage, that Alaska’s economy is at risk of being shut down. However, there is much more to the Biden administration’s vision than just its oil policy. In fact, the $2.3 trillion Build Back Better infrastructure bill can mean great things for Alaska if we capitalize on it. The plan can bring a massive infusion of capital for states that are proactively preparing for a new economic reality and advocating for the changes needed to realize it. Alaskans should be working hard to position ourselves to ensure we get our fair share of those funds and projects.
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