There were multiple positive outcomes for our ferry system this past legislative session, including a bill protecting Alaska Marine Highway System funds, the restart of the Prince Rupert route, and more ferries sailing.
House Bill 322, which I had the honor of carrying on the House floor and I am particularly pleased passed, protects multiple important funds: the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF), and the AMHS Fund and Vessel Replacement Fund.
The HIEF pays for our student state scholarships. The AMHS Fund is where revenue generated from the system, such as ticket sales, is deposited. In the past, the account funded ferry service, but this year federal funds will help fund the ferry system, allowing the AMHS Fund to grow.
Both the HEIF and the AMHS accounts were “swept” last year into the Constitutional Budget Reserve — our state savings account — and were at risk of being drained again in the future. Sweeping these funds puts a wrench in paying for those crucial state services. HB322 protects the funds by moving them to the state treasury and therefore not subjecting them to political fights every session.
Another win for the ferry system was the resumption of service to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The state ended service to Prince Rupert in October 2019 because of additional protection required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and later, COVID-19 restrictions. Thankfully, the vital route will resume on June 20, and reservations are now open.
I am grateful for the ferry system and the actions taken by the Legislature this session to protect and adequately fund it. In striving for a robust ferry system, we need one more very vital component: crew. The Alaska Marine Highway System is hiring more crew to fill our ships, and I highly encourage anyone interested to apply soon.
-- Rep. Dan Ortiz
Reader Comments(0)