Advocating for Passenger Rail Connectivity
Contributed by LaMarr Anderson, Self and AK Commuter Rail Coalition
The Borough’s newly formed Matsu Valley Planning for Transportation (MVP) organization recently hosted its inaugural public open house. This event was designed to educate residents about the MVP and highlight its essential role in shaping solutions for the region’s long-term transportation needs.
I found that the open house was thoughtfully organized and featured comprehensive, detailed maps. These resources helped facilitate discussions and direct community input regarding existing transportation challenges, as well as potential solutions for both current and future needs.
If you were unable to attend, be sure to participate in the next public forum that MVP presents. Your involvement is crucial in helping guide the direction of multi-modal transportation planning in our community.
However, you don’t have to wait to have input…and you shouldn’t wait: In fact, community input is critical right now….The MVP’s first federally required Transportation Plan (MTP) is being built now to be finalized late this year. It will serve as the Valley’s long-range transportation plan looking out to 2050 and will guide the selection of projects and funding for roads, buses, rail, pedestrian walking and biking projects…all aimed to support quality of life, economic development and sustainability.
Why is your involvement now important? It is updated every five years. So, public input now is important to ensure this first list starts out truly multimodal…. not just about roads/highways, but also pathways/trails, bus, freight, and passenger rail modes. This first plan will determine project and funding decisions that are made this year and the next five!
Passenger/commuter rail service connecting the MatSu Valley to Anchorage, including direct access to the airport, should be a central consideration in the MVP’s mission to develop a safe, efficient, and truly multimodal transportation network. While MVP’s stated objective provides an excellent foundation, the vision for a reliable and accessible transportation system will remain incomplete without dedicated attention to establishing passenger rail options between MatSu and Anchorage. This enhancement would support a broader range of travel choices and ensure the transportation system serves the diverse needs of our community.
Passenger rail means safety. Railroads lessen road congestion meaning fewer accidents on The Glenn Highway. Trains are amongst the safest and most efficient ways to travel during harsh winter conditions, such as snow and ice. Passenger rail is also more accessible for members of our community who cannot drive long distances, such as the disabled, elderly, and children.
Passenger rail can help stimulate the economy. Rail can expand job options to those who live in the MatSu and those who would consider moving to the MatSu if they could commute to their job in Anchorage more safely and reliably. Between the military bases, universities, and hospitals, there is a large workforce that already does or would consider commuting to Anchorage for work. It works for the ‘reverse’ commute as well….it would open up an increased employee and consumer base for valley-based employers, businesses and recreation sites…helping to stimulate the economy in the MatSu Valley.
Passenger rail is for the environment. Railroads are an important part of addressing the climate emergency. The low friction of smooth steel wheels rolling on smooth steel rails allows rail transportation to emit only a third of the greenhouse gas emissions of highway transportation. This is true even when a diesel-electric locomotive such as that used by the Alaska Railroad is pulling the train. If future trains could be electrified, they would need two- thirds less new electric power generation than highway transportation.
Passenger rail is common sense. Our local, state, and federal governments have already invested tons of money into building the infrastructure of the Alaska Railroad. There are train depots in downtown Anchorage, the Anchorage airport and Wasilla. The Railroad maintains updated tracks for freight and tourists anyway… Why shouldn’t Alaskans get to use our railroad?
A limited commuter rail test project was created and recommended by a Governor’s Commuter Rail Task Force in 2018…complete with projected schedules... It is still viable and doable with minor tweaking…it’s time to dust it off and seriously consider how it can be implemented. The Alaska Railroad has available locomotives during the fall, winter, and early spring seasons to run an 8-month pilot project with little to no upfront capital investment. The cost would primarily be operational. We already subsidize highways far more than we could ever imagine subsidizing rail and offering a viable alternative for Glen Highway congestion and shut-downs and could reduce the need for exorbitantly expensive road widening. Are there challenges and problems associated with passenger/commuter rail? Yes…. but a two-year test project will go a long way in finding solutions and proving the viability for maintaining and expanding future passenger/commuter rail options.
MVP is accepting comments and project nominations through January 11, 2026. www.mvpmpo.com. I have a particular interest in passenger and commuter rail transportation. I hope you will join me in adding a comment advocating for the transportation option of passenger rail between the Valley and Anchorage with access to the airport. That’s how they will achieve their mission of ensuring we have safe and efficient transportation options benefiting our community in the future as our growth continues. And…I encourage you to also add any other personally desired multimodal projects you support.