Alaska DOT hosts public meetings to discuss budget issues due to low oil prices

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) Northern Region is hosting a series of public meetings across the state to discuss budgetary restraints faced by the agency due to decreased revenues from the state’s oil industry.

The department says potential cuts will impact highway maintenance among other modes of transportation, including six maintenance camps being recommended for closure or reduced operations.

These include Northway Maintenance Station, O’Brien Creek Maintenance Station, Chitina Maintenance Station, Birch Lake Maintenance Station and Central Maintenance Station. ADOT&PF says the Thompson Pass Maintenance Station only operates during winter months.

The meeting times and locations include:

The agency says all meetings, except for Northway, will also be available via teleconference by calling 800-315-6338, and using conference code 89941#. Meetings also will be recorded and posted online at www.dot.alaska.gov.