Tongass National Forest

Public Forest Service Roads

Issue

The Federal Highway Administration and the Forest Service are seeking funding authorization of a Public Forest Service Road (PFSR) program in the next reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA 21). The Forest Service used authorities included in the 1998 Reauthorization Act to assume public road roles for Coffman Cove Road, a key Forest Service road on Prince of Wales Island. There are many opportunities in Alaska to include other Public Forest Service Road “demonstration projects” in the next reauthorization. An expanded PFSR program in Alaska will allow many rural communities to enjoy the benefits of a basic transportation infrastructure for the movement of people and goods between communities, with continued access to national forest lands. This improved road system will also facilitate more recreation and tourism, and related employment and income, when it is connected with the expanded facilities and service that will soon be provided by the Inter-island Ferry Authority.

Background

The Alaska Region historically assumed maintenance responsibilities for all inventoried roads under Forest Service jurisdiction. Some of these roads serve as the only public access to communities and would be better served by community or state maintenance jurisdiction. However, Forest Service roads that serve communities in Alaska are not built to state highway or even community standards. Most communities are reluctant to assume maintenance responsibility for roads that would be expensive to reconstruct and maintain in their present condition. Also, to prevent increased maintenance costs, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities placed restrictions to adding roads to the Alaska Highway System. The Forest Service responded by continuing the operational and maintenance responsibilities for existing community access roads under Forest Service jurisdiction. In the long run, the Forest Service believes reconstructing most of these roads to public road standards is the best course of action to serve communities.

Historically (with some exceptions), once roads are reconstructed, local communities or ADOTPF have assumed jurisdiction and resultant operations and maintenance responsibilities. Recent reductions by the Alaska Legislature in state highway maintenance funding have made this more difficult for some routes, such as the Coffman Cove Road. As a result, the Tongass National Forest was granted Public Road authority for the Coffman Cove Road, making it the first Public Forest Service Road in Alaska. This road will be a primary link between the proposed Coffman Cove ferry terminal and the existing Hollis ferry terminal while providing improved access to national forest lands and the major island communities. The Inter-island Ferry Authority plans to begin construction of the terminal in Coffman Cove by 2004, with a ferry service to the terminal shortly thereafter.

Efforts are underway to reconstruct the road to 2-lane paved standards with the Forest Service retaining its existing jurisdiction for maintenance except for the segment within the city limits. Coffman Cove agreed to take, operate, and maintain the segment of road within the city. The Forest Service funds the maintenance on the existing road and will maintain the improved road, but cannot legally assume snowplowing responsibility. Paved roads are generally less expensive to maintain than aggregate roads. New emphasis by the current state administration on transportation funding may lead to ADOTPF, communities, or boroughs assuming jurisdiction on public roads of this nature.

Current Situation

The Alaska Region is working with the Forest Highway program partners to identify opportunities for providing basic transportation infrastructure that will allow continued access to national

forest resources and improved connections between communities. Communities have shown that they excel at management of driveways, access to summer homes, and meeting local community needs. The Forest Service, the ADOTPF, the FHWA, and local communities will continue to work together to match transportation programs and opportunities with local needs.

The Alaska Region is preparing to reconstruct the El Capitan-North Prince of Wales Road, which would improve access to Naukati, Whale Pass, and other communities. The Sandy Beach Road from Thorne Bay to Coffman Cove is being prepared for reconstruction as well. Reconstruction on these projects can begin in 2004 should funding be authorized.

A separate PFSR program in the next TEA 21 reauthorization or other funding source is being sought to enable the Forest Service to improve transportation much like the Parks Road, Refuge Road or Indian Reservation Road programs currently enables for the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs, respectively. While the focus of the separate program is to address access to and through national forest lands, the need for close cooperation and coordination with the Forest Highway program and local communities is paramount. The Alaska Forest Highway Program presents a good example of cooperative efforts. In Alaska, 250 miles of road are identified as candidates for PFSR designation, pending funding for their improvement. Over $500 million in projects are listed in the inventory for potential improvement in the next decade. Improvement in these roads would go a long way toward resolving the $50 million backlog in deferred maintenance for roads maintained for passenger cars in Alaska.

More Information

Keith Simila, Director of Engineering and Aviation Management, (907) 586-8733.

Current as of March 2004

USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest Accessibility Statement
Last Modified: November 25, 2007