CBJ and the state move forward on study for North Douglas Second Crossing

The City and Borough of Juneau and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) have signed an agreement to study a second crossing between Juneau and Douglas Island. The purpose of a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study for the Juneau North Channel Second Crossing Project is to identify affected resources and potential impacts, and gather public and agency input to determine options for a second crossing. The Memorandum of Agreement between CBJ and DOT&PF was signed last week.

“This is a long-range community goal and allows the state to gather robust public input and develop multiple options without locking the project into one preferred plan from the onset,” Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt said.

CBJ has long identified the need and interest for a second crossing to Douglas Island. It would provide another transportation route and open up additional borough land for development as identified in the 2013 Comprehensive Plan. For the PEL study, the Juneau Assembly in 2018 provided $210,000 in matching funds to leverage funding provided by the Federal Highway Administration through DOT&PF.

The final report will identify options to bring forward for analysis through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Though ADOT&PF will take the lead on conducting the study through a consulting firm, CBJ will be an active partner throughout the process and the final results will be reviewed by the CBJ Planning Commission.

For more information, contact CBJ City Manager Rorie Watt at 586-5240 or [email protected], or DOT&PF Southcoast Region Planning Chief Marie Heidemann at 465-4477 or [email protected].