Borough Assembly votes to move forward with West Susitna Access Road

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly passed a resolution to support the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) in advancing to Phase 3 of the West Susitna Access Project at their regularly scheduled meeting this week.

The resolution was tabled at the Assembly’s last meeting after an overwhelming number of residents voiced their opposition to the project.  Additional people testified against the road at this week’s meeting, although a handful of residents turned out to support the road.

The Assembly seemed torn about how to proceed. Assembly Member Tim Hale, moved to table the resolution indefinitely. However that motion failed to pass. Mat-Su Borough Manager Mike Brown, explained that AIDEA could not proceed without the Borough’s support, but that moving forward with Phase 3 could provide valuable answers to the Assembly’s concerns.

Objectives of Phase 3 include the completion of multiple studies required for project permitting. Earlier this year, the State Legislature appropriated $8.5 million to advance the completion of those studies.

Phase 3 also involves public engagement and outreach, something many Borough residents expressed has been sorely lacking.  Borough Manager Mike Brown noted that the Assembly has budgeted $50,000 for the West Susitna Access Road process. Those funds are earmarked for stakeholder engagement and data collection.

Brown also stated that if the project is determined not to be in the public interest, the road will not be built.

The Assembly ultimately passed the resolution to support moving to Phase 3 of the West Susitna Access Road by a 6-1 vote.