Juneau -- Representative Jeannette James (R-North Pole) this week introduced HJR 51, which would to give the support of the Alaska Legislature to a feasibility study on connecting Alaska to the rest of North America by railroad.

HJR 51 has been assigned to the World Trade and State/Federal Relations and Transportation Committees.

The wording of HJR 51 closely follows that of a resolution adopted at the Alaska-Canada Rail Link Conference January 20 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The day-long conference was organized by Rep. James, at the request of Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski, and drew 118 participants from as far as Michigan and Alberta. Voting members of the conference unanimously approved a resolution in support of Senator Murkowski's effort to authorize a feasibility study.

"This approval shows there is strong grass roots support for the rail connection feasibility study in British Columbia and Yukon, as well as Alaska," said Rep. James. Bill Woolf, transportation committee staff to Sen. Murkowski, and former federal railroad chief Gil Carmichael of Meridian, Mississippi, addressed the conference. Both speakers presented a clear vision of the economic benefits a rail connection would bring to Alaska and its Canadian neighbors as well as to the Lower 48 states.

Conference participants included resource development and transportation industry officials, legislators, government officials, academics, and Chamber of Commerce heads from close to a dozen communities.

Also addressing the conference were geologists from the University of Alaska and State Dept. of Natural Resources, the Yukon government's mining advisor, and rail development entrepreneurs from British Columbia. The conference also heard from transportation consultant Hal Cooper of Kirkland, Washington -- currently advising the national railroad of China -- and tourism expert Steve Hites, of Skagway, long connected with the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad.

"Senator Murkowski has told me he's committed to passing legislation to establish a bilateral commission to conduct a feasibility study," said Rep. James. "This resolution is important because it will put the Alaska Legislature on record as backing this effort."

Geologist Milt Wiltse described extensive mineral-rich regions within 25 miles of a proposed rail corridor southeast from Eielson Air Force Base to the Yukon-Alaska border. In addition to gold, nickel, lead and zinc deposits, there are areas rich in Platinum. According to Yukon mining facilitator Jesse Duke, similar geologic formations exist on the Yukon side of the border, along designated transportation corridors.

"At present, lack of a transportation infrastructure prevents these reserves from being developed. It's just not economical to move equipment in and concentrates out by air or road -- which are the only options now,'' said Rep. James. "The advantage of rail is that you can move bulk goods further, cheaper. Railroads are also are a more environmentally friendly transportation. They present a much smaller footprint than roads while allowing for more restricted access to unpopulated areas."

Approximately 1,000 miles separate the northeasternmost extension of the Alaska Railroad at Eielson from the northwesternmost reaches of the British Columbia Railroad at Fort Nelson, on the Alaska Highway, or Chipmunk, which is a little north of Fort St. James.

The conference was told it would take approximately three years to complete environmental studies on any proposed route. Geologist Paul Metz told the conference the route from Eielson to the Canadian Border was well-suited for railroad construction, with few avalanche chutes or unstable land surfaces.

Construction costs would be part of a feasibility study, but rough estimates have placed these costs at between $1 million and $3 million per mile.

For more information, or for a copy of the conference and/or bill packet, please contact Richard F. Schmitz at 907 465 3743 or email rail@legislator.com

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