News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
716 West 4th Avenue, Suite 510
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: 907/258-8184
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

New Traffic Signal Installed at Dangerous Anchorage Intersection

Senator Dave Donley and Mayor Rick Mystrom Dedicate Abbott Loop-Abbott Road Traffic Signal

For Immediate Release: September 25, 1998 Contact: James Armstrong, 258-8181 Aide to Senator Dave Donley

Anchorage – To address a mounting safety hazard caused by vehicle and pedestrian traffic, Senator Dave Donley and Mayor Rick Mystrom join local residents Friday to dedicate the new Abbott Loop/Abbott Road traffic signal. The new signal marks the culmination of three years work by Senator Donley to obtain state funding for this project.

"The growing volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic hazard at this intersection has created a dangerous situation," said Senator Donley. "Street crossings for students and parents trying to commute to Service High School have become more and more dangerous. This new traffic light will ensure safe passage across one of lower hillside's busiest intersections."

At the request of area residents and members of the Abbot Loop Community Council, Senator Donley petitioned the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to review traffic volume at this intersection. While DOT's analysis showed a signal was needed, especially during the school year, the department failed to include funding for the signal in any of its subsequent capital budget requests to the legislature.

This past legislative session, Senator Donley worked with Mayor Mystrom, Representative Jerry Sanders, Assembly members Kevin Meyer and George Wuerch and members of the Abbott Loop Community Council to secure funding to build the signal. The team effort to address this safety hazard obtained the only such state funding for an Anchorage traffic project this year.

"I would like to thank municipal officials for working with legislators as a team to make this needed safety project a reality. Once the Municipality received the funding from the legislature, they cut through the bureaucratic red-tape to get this traffic signal built as soon as possible," explained Donley.

"This is a good example of our municipal government and state legislators hearing and responding to community concerns," said Anchorage Mayor Rick Mystrom. "Because of the leadership of Senator Donley, our community is safer place for students and pedestrians today."

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Broadcasters Note: A radio actuality from Senator Donley can be heard on the Senate Majority Actuality line at (800) 478-6540.
 = Dave Donley, 29 K