Module VI- American Period: Transportation and Communication

Essential Question:
What are issues facing Alaskans today related to transportation and communication?

Funding is critical across the board.  Whether it is from the government or down to the local level, maintenance, general upkeep, and projected development requires lots of money. It's hard to get the funding when the projected needs of transportation (highways, avaiation, AMHS) exceeds their combined revenues by $700 million dollars (Let's Get Moving 2030).  In attempt to make a profit or maintain the service, fare prices and other costs continue to increase.

U.S. Coast Guard  Cutter Healy and Russian tanker Renda
on their way to Nome.
Provided by Sara Francis/U.S. Coast Guard via Getty Images
CBS News

Additional issues lie with the climate itself. With nearly 85% of Alaska covered by permafrost, construction and building is complicated as it melts. Icefields take up an additional 4%, dense sea ice, and weather also contribute to the challenges. We all remember the Russian tanker as broke through hundreds of miles of ice to get to Nome. On land, however, the vast size of Alaska takes its toll. Major rivers and large mountain ranges make it near to impossible to connect roads and communication routes to all the villages and towns. No wonder why aviation is vital, but they have their complications too!

On a larger note, climate changes can be linked to the pollution and emissions globally. Alaska's DOT article, Let's Get Moving 2030, further breaks down the percentage released by means of transportation. Aviation leads in emissions at 67%, land travel (not including rail) 19%, and marine 13%.

I highly recommend the Alaska Department of Transportation Let's Get Moving 2030 article. It's very informative and puts things into perspective.



Examine Question:

Identify the three major railroads in Alaska history- where? when? why? ownership? current status?


1)White Pass and Yukon Railway-
Where:  Skagway to Whitehorse- approximately 110 miles long, over 90% of the rail is in Canada

Photo: John Call Benedict, engineer, stops for a photo with Steam Engine No. 5 in 1900
WY&YR facts

When: Constructed in May 1898. Finished in July 1900.
Why: To transport miners and stampeders to the Klondike gold rush and to link mines to main water sources
Ownership: Close Brothers of London sold the route to Canadian investors in 1951.   During WWII, U.S government used rail for transporting military supplies.
Current Status: In 1982, mines and WP&YR operations closed, but the railroad reopened in 1988. Today, it hosts many tourist excursions and hauls freight.

CR&NR along Abercrombie Canyon with steam shovel
John Urban Collection, 1896-1913, Vilda AMRC b64-1-150

2) Copper River and Northwestern Railway-
Where: Port in Cordova to Kennecott copper mines, approximately 196 miles long, nearly 50% on elevated structures (bridges, trestles)
When: Completed in 1911
Why: To complete a route from interior mines to open bodies of water (through Cordova). Also, shipping of mostly copper ore and some gold and silver
Ownership: Alaska Syndicate bought railroad from Michael J. Heney in 1906.
Current Status: Mine and railroad abandoned in 1938. Land and bridges donated to U.S. government for road development.

3)Alaska Railroad-
Where: Resurrection Bay in Seward to Fairbanks, freight can continue to the Ellison Air Force Base, overall 520 miles of track
When: Completed in 1923

Our trip from Anchorage to Seward on the 4th of July
via the Alaska Railroad.

Why: Route from interior mines to Gulf of Alaska. The transporting of military supplies during WWII and for construction of pipeline.
Ownership: Alaska Central Railroad Company in 1903 was bought out by a group of Canadians in 1904 until they went bankrupt. Alaska Northern Railway Company, originally Alaska Central, purchases it in 1909-1910.
Current Status: Transportation of visitors/tourists, 10 various tours, 6 schedules varying through the year, hauling of freight, up to 8 million tons according to Alaska Railroad.




Extend Question:
How adequate are the systems in your region of the state?

I think the systems in the Southeast are quite adequate. From a water perspective, the Alaska Marine Highway in this region stretches from Bellingham,Wa to Skagway, Ak. From there you can get connections to any other regions in Alaska. The one issue I see, but would be hard to alter, is the timing of arrivals and departures and the duration spent in a port. I know I've ran into problems with that before. The AMHS constantly looks for new ideas and technologies that will benefit the marine highway and its travelers. Furthermore with water travel, cruise lines bring the annual tourists that help support the port towns along the coast. The SE economy would diminish if this system was inadequate or non-existent.

Air travel in the SE and anywhere in Alaska is a prominent means of travel. Either by helicopter or by plane, this method is the quickest way to transport cargo and people in and out of the area.  One downfall is how expensive it is to fly with in the state and trying to get out, but there are many other in state flight companies that can be of aid if one doesn't work out.

Southeastern communication reminded me of how I was going to answer one of the other extend questions in regards to the capitol's location here in Juneau. I enjoyed this because I asked several colleagues on their thoughts. Across the board, everyone stated how much technology has changed and has greatly improved, allowing the governance of Alaska to be successful in Juneau. The legislature is among the many who contribute to the very impressive usage of teleconferencing. Alaskan residents can follow representatives on their personal websites, radio, television, newspapers, etc. All the information can be found online! One of my colleagues told me an interesting fact as we closed our discussion. She said that if the topic of moving Alaska's capital up North came up, she'd ask the individual if he/she participated in the local government. Too often she heard no. It makes you wonder how involved the person would be if the capitol was to be moved to a different, more central location. Just an interesting thought.

Evaluation:

One of my first accidents happened while working on this blog. Auto-save doesn't always auto-save. Lesson learned...bummer. Nonetheless, I'm really enjoying the content of this blog as well as spending the time to look at other blogs.  In relation to the content, just this last summer, my family came up to visit and we drove from Skagway to Whitehorse and then to Haines. It was a great trip, and I got to experience the variety of transportation around Alaska. I'm thankful that I live in an area that is so diverse. Even though I may have visited a glacier by boat, it's a completely different experience seeing the same glacier from an aerial perspective.  I've enjoyed getting to learn about the assorted modes of transportation: air, water, and land.

Blog Comments:
Shannon's blog is visually appealing and informative. I liked how she incorporated personal photos into her blog.

Robin had a nice presentation for her re-cap of Module V. It was easy to read and easy to access previous and new information through her hyperlinks.

Great opening photo in Joan's blog. Being new to Alaska I guess I never truly understood the dynamics of the pipeline and how it cuts through Alaska. I further liked how she tied in current events to our topics. It's very fitting since the legislature is in session.