Talkeetna council discusses AKRR pedestrian crossing possibility

The Talkeetna Community Council made inroads this past month on the discussion of the  Talkeetna Airport Improvement project, an ongoing process for over a decade or two.

Council board member Rick Shreiber contacted Senator Charlie Huggins office to get an understanding of the Airport Improvement Project and the possibility of a proper pedestrian crossing at the Alaska Railroad tracks on Second Street.

Schreiber reported on answers received about the project that will occur in September.  The removal of trees between Easy Street and the runway will not change and is set for this fall.  The installation of a pedestrian pathway along Second Street will also occur.

Schreiber reported that between phone discussions with Bruce Carr of Alaska Railroad and Allen Kemplen, area planner with DOT, there is a possibility that there could be an at grade crossing for pedestrians which would extend the planned pedestrian walkway along Second Street.

The council voted unanimously to send a resolution to DOT, the Borough Assembly and state representatives about the unsafe crossing that the pedestrian walkway may create.  The council fully recommends the Borough work with the Alaska Railroad and DOT to develop an at-grade pedestrian crossing to connect the East Second Street pathway with the Spur Road pathway.  Kemplen of DOT has suggested the amount of such a project would be close to one hundred thousand dollars to establish an at-grade crossing.  Schrieber says Carr responded positively to the proposal.

A road bond may be on the ballot at the next Borough election October 4^th.  The council is hopeful that some of the road project funding can go to the Talkeetna crossing