Alaska Mobility Coalition

Achieving Mobility Through Community Based Transportation Services

Legislative Priorities

Issues presented by Alaska Mobility Coalition to the State of Alaska:

  1. Support Human Services Transportation Grant Program: We support capital funding for the Human Services Transportation Grant program–for FY 24, this means $300 K in Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority funding, matched with $1 million in state general funds, primarily to support the transit needs of the Alaska Mental Health Board (AMHB) beneficiaries. AMC is working with the Trust to make it easier for grantees to apply for these flexible transportation funds. 
  2. Transit Match Funding:  For many years, the State put in General Fund dollars to help transit providers with their local match requirements for various federal transit program grants they were eligible for but needed help meeting their federal match requirement. The amount has varied yearly, from $500 K to $1.5 M, and has not been in the budget for four years. The State should consider reviving this program at some level so we do not lose on a large influx of new federal funds for capital and operating grants. The Legislature should, at minimum, provide $500,000 in GF to DOT for State transit capital project administration and provide $500 K to sub-recipients to help meet local match requirements on an as-needed basis. 
  3. Put Transit in Statute:  The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT) has many responsibilities in its enabling statute, but none deal directly with public and community transportation. It is time that public and community transportation be specified and that DOT then includes public and community transport in all their reporting and plan development documents. 
  4. Explore Semi-Annual Public and Community Transportation Conference: DOT has not held a statewide conference for public and community transportation providers for six years. It is time to bring back at least a bi-annual (every two years) training and networking conference in the State. AMC stands ready to help organize and run as they did a half dozen years ago. 

Contact Patrick Reinhart at (907) 301-0728 to discuss legislative priorities.