Long Range Transportation Planning in Alaska's Federal Lands

Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) have begun conducting long range transportation planning processes consistent with LRTPs required by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and States. LRTPs in the National Park Service regions and in the other FLMAs have a different focus than other LRTPs because transportation on federal lands rarely centers on the efficient movement of people and goods. In the National Park units, transportation to and through the park often IS the experience. Often, the last thing a visitor to a park wants is a quick trip between two points!

In many ways, the Alaska Region units face a different set of transportation issues than the regions in the lower 48. The Alaska Region serves 15 parks, and comprises 68% of all NPS land in the country, yet boasts some of the least visited units in the system. Only three of the 15 parks are accessible by the limited road system in Alaska. The other parks are accessed by plan, helicopter, boat, dogsled, and snowmachine. Rather than exploring ways to control congestion and reduce vehicle miles traveled like other regions, the Alaska NPS units face diverse issues such as cruise ship capacity and access for subsistence hunting and gathering in the backcountry.

In Alaska, NPS is teaming up with the US Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highways, and the State of Alaska. Land managed by these agencies combined comprise over half of all the land in Alaska. Through conducting long range transportation planning jointly the FLMAs can identify common interests, align project investments, and maximize transportation investments.