The Alaska Senate voted 6-14 against adding a joint resolution supporting federal funding for two notable railroad projects shortly before adjourning for the legislative session. House Joint Resolution 14, sponsored by Rep. Kevin McCabe (R-Big Lake) and backed by Interior Alaska Republicans, including Reps. Mike Prax,Will Stapp,Frank Tomaszewski,and Rebecca Schwanke,aimed to bolster the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail extension in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the northern Rail Extension from near Salcha to Delta Junction.

The House had unanimously approved the resolution on may 7.Sen. mike Shower (R-wasilla) requested the resolution’s placement on the Senate floor for adoption, but the request was denied. the resolution was under consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.

Sen. Mike Shower (R-Wasilla) said that U.S.Rep Nick Begich’s (R-Alaska) office requested the resolution as part of a federal grant package for the Alaska Railroad “to get the necessary funding so we can complete these projects.”

“This is critical because … without the port, we are looking at billions of dollars in investment with different companies that want to come in,” Shower said. “The port is there,but you need the railroad to connect it.”

Proponents say that both rail extension projects are vital to Alaska’s infrastructure, economic development, and support for military installations in Interior Alaska.

Details of the Rail Extension Projects

The Port MacKenzie Rail Extension saw initial investments from the Alaska Railroad and the Mat-Su Borough, with $184 million spent between 2008 and 2015 on foundational infrastructure like track beds and bridges. However,the project still requires actual tracks,a new facility,signals,and eight miles of remaining track bed.

The Northern Rail Extension involves acquiring rights-of-way and land agreements with federal, military, private, and state agencies, a potential new environmental review, and constructing 81 miles to Delta Junction. the first phase, costing $180 million, was the 2014 completion of the rail bridge across the Tanana River near Salcha. The state halted the project afterward due to budgetary constraints.

“what is good for Alaska is good for all of us,”

The Alaska Railroad estimates the Northern Rail Extension would cost at least $1.7 billion. The resolution received letters of support from the cities of Fairbanks and Houston, the Alaska Railroad Corporation, and the Mat-Su and Denali Boroughs.

Shower emphasized that the resolution was “time-critical” and needed approval within a month.He stated, “I’m just getting it out there so we do not hamper economic prospect that we need in the state. We know there are headwinds coming, we need this investment and we have a Congressman who is working hard to get it.” The Alaska Railroad estimates the final work will require at least $400 million.

Senators Weigh In

Sen. Robert Yundt (R-Wasilla) argued that the rail projects would benefit Alaska from Port MacKenzie to Fairbanks, urging senators to support the resolution nonetheless of their districts’ direct benefits. Some Alaska senators, including Sen.Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), opposed the resolution. Wielechowski, who chairs the rules committee, said he intended to calendar the resolution for a floor vote, but it became apparent it lacked significant support from the majority caucus, leading to its return to the rules committee.

“We don’t put bills on the floor unless they have the necessary support,” Wielechowski said.

Wielechowski also cited the associated costs as a reason for his opposition. “We have already spent $184 million on what manny people call a boondoggle,” he said, noting that completing the remaining 32 miles of the Port MacKenzie project would cost over $458 million. “I wish we had that kind of money to spend on projects,” Wielechowski said. “I think many people would probably rather have that $184 million we plopped down on this railroad to nowhere.”

Sen. Jesse bjorkman (R-Kenai) expressed support for the resolution but attributed its failure to reach the floor to the Senate’s lack