More Than a Pipe Dream.

• Author: SCHMITZ, RICHARD F.
• Position: Alaskan railroad

Provisions are in place to construct a railroad to the Lower 48 by connecting existing Alaska infrastructure with that in Canada.

Three years ago, when Rep. Jeannette James, R-North Pole, spoke of her vision of a railroad to connect Alaska with the Lower 48 states, the response she got was often a polite smile or, just as often, rolled eyes and a polite smile.

That has changed.

"The same folks who rolled their eyes are now asking what they can do to get on board. There's a lot of excitement about this project," said James, majority leader of the Alaska House, and author of HB 241, which, if passed, will authorize the Alaska Railroad to seek a right-of-way for a rail and utility corridor to Whitehorse, Yukon.

The sudden enthusiasm for the project--which has been explored in one form or another for almost a century--is largely the result of funding for a study commission secured by Sen. Frank Murkowski.

A Unified Front

In May, the Alaska senator met with Canadian legislators at the 42nd annual Canadian Interparliamentary Conference, held in British Columbia. "I was heartened once again by the enthusiasm of Canadian members of parliament on the railroad proposal," Murkowski said. "There always has been unanimous support from the conference for studying this transportation project, but the interest this year was tremendous. I'm convinced we can move forward and have this commission under way yet this year."

Legislation passed by Murkowski in 2000 approved a 24-member bilateral commission to study economic, environmental and engineering matters involved in the extension of the Alaska Railroad from Eielson Air Force Base to the northern limit of the British Columbia Railroad, closing an approximately 1,200-mile gap. The cost of constructing the rail connection has been estimated at between $1 million and $3 million per mile, putting the total cost at upwards of 1.2 billion.

For the commission to be seated, however, Canadian approval is needed. Informal talks have been held, but the first formal action from Ottawa was taken in May with the hiring of a consultant to review Canadian concerns for the commission to address. The commission was informally presented to the Canadian government on May 8 in a low-level exchange at the State Department-Foreign Ministry level, and will be followed by a more formal diplomatic note, Murkowski's office reported.

The commission will be comprised of 12 Americans and 12 Canadians, and will have a paid staff...