8/3/2019 26120_KingCove_ColdBay
1/3
Project Nomination Package
NEED ID # 26120
Project Type: URBAN AND RURAL Region: C
Sponsor: Sponsor Contact: Sharon Boyette
Phone: (907) 274-7555Location: King Cove
Borough: Aleutians East Borough
ProjectCost
Sponsor'sContribution
Phase 2:
Phase 3:
Phase 4:
Total Cost: $21,000,000
This project will construct the third and f inal phase of the
road connecting the City of King Cove with theCity of Cold Bay and
its 10,412 foot long all-weather airport. The project will
construct a 17.5 mile single lane gravelroad. The DCCED Community
Profile database lists the population of King Cove as 744.
Description:
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, Subtitle E
(Izembek Land National Wildlife RefugLand Exchange) states in part,
Upon receipt of notification by the State and the Corporation of
the intention of the Statand the Corporation to exchange the
non-Federal land for the Federal land, subject to the conditions
and requirements
described in this subtitle, the Secretary may convey to the
State all right, title, and interest of the United States in and
tothe Federal land. The Federal land within the Refuge shall be
transferred for the purpose of constructing a single lanegravel
road between the communities of King Cove and Cold Bay, Alaska.
This legislation stipulated that the road constructed for this
purpose shall be used "primarily for health and safetypurposes
(including access to and from the Cold Bay Airport) and only for
non-commercial purposes." The AlaskaLegislature unanimously
approved the land exchange in 2010. King Cove is a large community
of over 700 people, andall regional air travel routes through Cold
Bay's large regional airport. There is hovercraft access between
the twocommunities, but recently the Aleutians East Borough
discontinued hovercraft runs between the two communities for
thwinter months due to extreme weather, maintenance issues and high
costs to operate the vessel.
Despite their proximity, King Cove and Cold Bay are
geographically isolated areas. The area's geographic isolationmakes
aviation the primary means of passenger transport to and from the
communities. Fog during summer and high
winds during winter with mountainous terrain over open water
causes delays and treacherous transportation options ouof King Cove
that can limit accessibility. A reliable surface mode of transport
for local residents would be of great beneffor safer travel. The
cost is roughly estimated at $21,000,000.
Justification:
Project Name: AEB: King Cove Cold Bay Road
1
7
2
9
3
9
4
9
5
3
6
5
7
9
8
7
9
4
10
3
11
4
12
7
13
0
Total Region Score: 283
Phase 7:
HPEB Date: 2/8/2011
$0
8/3/2019 26120_KingCove_ColdBay
2/3
26120 URBAN AND RURAL
This project provides new road access and is explicitly called
out in a plan (Southwest AlaskaTransportation Plan, 2004 Revision).
This road would provide a way to share community functions,
equipment andmaterials. King Cove is 47.9% native with subsistence
rights in the Izembek Natonal Wildlife Refuge. The AEB andCity of
King Cove strongly believe that the road will have major economic
benefit to by assuring year round, reliableand affordable access
between King Cove and Cold Bay Airport instead of the current
unreliable and costly air andmarine service. The road also will
increase the health and safety of residents by providing reliable
and safer accessto subsistence resources.[ 7 ]
1. Economic Benefit:
This project provides a significant contribution to the health
and quality of life byproviding access from King Cove to the
airport and overland medevac access. Congress originally focused on
"life-safety" and medical evacuation as the primary need for the
project. The hovercraft is currently winterized and will nbe in
operation until June 2011. In 2007 the hovercraft successfully
completed at least 27 medevacs. Aircraft traveduring this
winterization of the hovercraft can be difficult. Although the King
Cove airport runway was resurfaced in2005, the FAA Alaska Aviation
Supplement states "Runway 07-25 soft during breakup and after heavy
rain. Runwasafety areas drop-off on both sides of the runway. Given
the conditions, the facility is not optimal for year-rounduse.[ 9
]
2. Health and Quality of Life:
A road between the two communities would be the safest and
reliable mode of transportation. There is adocumented NTSB accident
history at the King Cove Airport, including one Beech 200 medevac
accident that killedpeople. The Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian
Islands are known for their cloudy and windy weather. There is a
smal
margin of error for aircraft operating in this area. The
combination of windy weather, low visibility, mountainousterrain,
and open water mean air and water transportation can be unreliable.
There is also a limited access toemergency health care in an area
known for dangerous fishing conditions. In addition the Coast Guard
is taskedwith rescues at sea, and regular medevac operators provide
service for land based communities. At 3,500 feet, thKing Cove
runway is marginal for some types of medevac aircraft otherwise
typically used (for example lear jets).The AEB and City of King
Cove believe a road between the two communities would be the safest
and most reliablemode of transportation.[ 9 ]
3. Safety:
This project would clearly reduce the need for capital
investment in anothermode of transportation (hovercraft, which
currently serves the route between the two communities), as well as
thepossible need to lengthen the King Cove Airport for improved
safety. The effects of the weather have limited theability of the
hovercraft to serve the medical evacuation needs year-round, and is
currently not operating due to highcost and poor winter weather.[ 9
]
4. Improves Intermodal Transportation:
The Aleutians East Borough will provide a 10% capital match. The
EIS is alreadyfunded.[ 3 ]
5. Local Capital Contribution:
Preponderance of public support. The project is specifically
called out in the Aleutians Eastborough Transportation Plan 1991,
the DOT&PF Southwest Area Transportation Plan (Revised 2004).
There areresolutions from the King Cove City Council and the
Aleutians East Borough supporting the project. The AleutiansEast
Borough, City of King Cove, Adgaagux Tribe of King Cove, and King
Cove Corporation successfully advocatedfor this federal legislation
to allow for this process to evaluate the proposed land exchange
for the possibility ofconstructing this road link.[ 9 ]
7. Public Support:
There is a previous agreement for local ownership and operation
for the adjacent recentlyconstructed section of the road. We
anticipate the AEB will operate and maintain this section of road
as well whileownership may be retained by the state.[ 5 ]
6. M&O Priority:
Environmental approvals are necessary and not yet complete. The
DEIS for the landexchange and road corridor is under development.
We expect a record of decision in approximately one year thenthe
Secretary of Interior will make a final decision.[ 7 ]
8. Environmental Approval:
This is major construction of a long term project.[ 4 ]9.
Surface Rehabilitation:
$21,000,000/17.5 mi./ 100 = $12,000[ 3 ]10. Cost
Effectiveness:
No deficient bridges.[ 4 ]11. Deficient Bridges:
This road would be classified as a Major Collector per the
State's recently implemented guidenceregarding functional
classification.[ 7 ]
12. Functional Class:
King Cove AEB: King Cove Cold Bay Road
