The latest “Snowmageddon” has many roots. But the largest has been ignored — the Alaska Department of Transportation has zero business plowing snow in the Anchorage Bowl.
It’s been known for years — look no farther than the buried sidewalks along state-plowed routes. Lots of them.
Alaska DOT’s strength is rural highways. They are resourced to that mission, clearing big, straight roads at high speed. It’s been obvious to some of us for decades that the Municipality of Anchorage should manage snow for all but the New Seward Highway and perhaps part of Minnesota Drive. Streets, roads, sidewalks.
There’s precedent in the form of the traffic light system maintenance and operation agreement that has been in place for many decades. The Muni would unify the process; there would be no silos nor need for the ad hoc resource sharing that did and has gone on for decades. Duplicate fleets of equipment would be merged into one, tailored to the job. The state would transfer DOT equivalent funding to the Muni. There are significant details to iron out, but with the train wreck we have now a smarter, more effective, and successful way to manage snow is mandatory. The winters of the past are just that — past.
We adapt or are doomed to repeat the failures.
— Jeff Schmitz
Anchorage
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.