Alaska Matters: Alaska Long Trail & Legislation Highlights

Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

July 14, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

More and more Alaskans support the Alaska Long Trail project and I consistently support investing in this important effort. The Alaska Long Trail project has broad support from local communities, economic development groups, and the tourism industry.

Alaska Long Trail

Prior to this year, the governor vetoed the funding for the Alaska Long Trail each time the legislature supported it. I'm pleased to report that the approved FY24 budget includes funding for three projects that are part of the Alaska Long Trail. The Alaska Long Trail will connect 500 miles of hiking, biking, and motorized trails between Seward and Fairbanks.

The three projects are:

Eklutna Lakeside Trail Improvements: $234,000 to repair erosion and improve safety.
Ram Valley Access Reestablishment: $100,000 to make sure trail access is secured around private land.
Indian Valley Trail Reroute: $1,100,000 to fix erosion and reroute the summer trail.

Our office has been in touch with the Alaska Trails organization over the years about this project. We appreciate their work to make the outdoors a more accessible and desirable place to visit.

For more information about the Alaska Long Trail, click here.

Legislation Highlights

Senate Bill 123

Senate Bill 123 removes the one-year regular driver’s license requirement for those seeking a commercial driver’s license. This requirement has acted as a barrier to entry for prospective commercial truck drivers for over the last 30 years. During the legislative session, SB 123 passed both the House and the Senate unanimously. Governor Dunleavy plans to sign SB 123 into law at the end of this month.

House Bill 8

House Bill 8 proposes to regulate and define e-bicycles as bicycles. HB 8 would exclude e-bicycles from the definition of motor vehicles. Alaska currently does not have any laws pertaining to electric assisted bicycles, nor any related references to operating licenses, safety requirements, local traffic laws, or related definitions. During the legislative session, HB 8 passed both the House and the Senate.

Community Information

→ Medicaid Renewals

Medicaid eligibility renewals have started. This includes those enrolled in Denali KidCare and DenaliCare.

Being ready to renew now means making sure your contact information is up to date. If your information may be different than it was last time you renewed, please call to update.

Call the Medicaid Information Update Hotline, at 1-833-441-1870.

You can also update your information online yourself at health.alaska.gov/dpa/Pages/medicaid/Medicaid-Renewals.aspx (look for the link "Medicaid Information Update Form."

→ 511 Survey

Help the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities make 511 better by participating in this quick survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/7L3CJPD.

Community Events

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

Fly By Festival

Join friends and neighbors on Saturday for the Alaska Aviation Museum's annual Festival & Flyby Show! The features vintage aircrafts flying over Lake Hood, with music, food trucks, and beer & wine available.

Tickets are $10 for children, ages 3-10, and $20 for adults.

When: Saturday, July 15 from 10:00 AM

to 4:00 PM

Where: Alaska Aviation Museum, 4721 Aircraft Dr Anchorage, AK

99502