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Tribal Transportation
Kistwoo
John Hawkins Jr. Manager
Lgeik’l Eesh
Will Ware Manager June 2013 - January 2020 The Tribal Transportation department is organized to manage the day-to-day operations that the Tribe has contracted through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) for both Juneau and Saxman, Alaska. The Tribal Transportation department was established in 2005 along with other federally recognized tribal transportation programs throughout the region. Tlingit & Haida began contracting directly with FHWA’s TTP (formerly the Indian Reservation Roads Program) in 2009. Beginning with FY 2013, funds were distributed to tribes annually on a statutory formula-driven basis under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) legislation. Under new legislation, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST ACT), the department is still operating under that same funding formula. Tribal shares of TTP funds can be used for planning, design, construction, maintenance and administration of Tribal Transportation. Annual TTP funding from FHWA was $636,022 for Juneau and $58,195 for Saxman. Tribal Transportation continues to provide representation on state and national transportation issues. The department also participates in the Southeast Conference, Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) Reform Project, and continues to collaborate with local agencies to improve, construct and maintain transportation routes identified as important and necessary.
2020 Highlights
Worked with KIRA Corporation to relocate utilities underground at the William G.
Demmert Head Start Center. Paved the parking lot and created additional parking around the William G. Demmert
Head Start Center. Resurfaced the Yellow House parking lot to accommodate company vehicle parking in secured gated lot. Started the process of adding newly acquired land located at 2631 Channel Drive (former Triplette Construction Building), as well as 86.44 acres on North Douglas (Kowee Creek Subdivision) into the Tribe’s road inventory. Received bids from Southeast Alaska Construction (SECON) to repair poorly deteriorated streets in Saxman, Alaska. Total estimate of repairs is approximately $1,000,000.
2021 Goals
Begin construction of the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans Memorial Park. Obtain additional right of way access to 86.44 acres of Kowee Creek Subdivision. Complete updates to the Tribal Transportation Program’s Bureau of Indian Affairs inventory list. Secure permit from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand property 100’ on
Southeast General Contractors tidewater property. Pave the Organized Village of Saxman’s office parking lot. Reseal asphalt and complete general road maintenance on Saxman streets. Because of the high cost of this project, we will be looking into ways to save money.