ASCE Members in Alaska and Montana Testify on Infrastructure Investment

Last weekend, ASCE members testified on the need for infrastructure investment in Alaska as a response to three hearings the Alaska House Finance Committee held in seven communities across the state. These hearings gave Alaskans the opportunity to respond to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget, which included deep cuts in areas from healthcare to the Alaska Marine Highway System, which received a “D” on the 2017 Alaska Infrastructure Report Card. Alaska’s entire infrastructure received a “C-.” David Gamez, P.E. testified in Anchorage, Tor Anderzen, P.E. testified in Wasilla, and Carl Uchytil, P.E. testified in Juneau.

In Montana, the ASCE Montana Section testified this week before the Montana House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee in opposition to HB 674, which would move additional gas tax revenues to recreational snowmobile education, safety and enforcement. ASCE opposes this action because it diverts much-needed funds for infrastructure. The Committee tabled the bill once the hearing ended. The testimony referenced the 2018 Report Card for Montana’s Infrastructure , which gave the state’s roads a “C-”and the state’s overall infrastructure systems a “C,”  noting Montana is thriving from economic growth, a successful tourism industry, and grassroots entrepreneurship and we must invest in our infrastructure in order to meet the needs the state.