The View From ‘Nowhere’

You missed the biggest need the bridge would address: The land on the other side. He said they are the 4th largest population in Alaska. Without the bridge, they can't build, they can't offer more services to people who pass through, they can't grow their tourism industry, and they can't grow past 14,000. The bridge would be an investment in the future and I think it would be well worth it. Palin did no favor to the Alaskan people by throwing Ketchikan under the bus.

You missed the biggest need the bridge would address: The land on the other side. He said they are the 4th largest population in Alaska. Without the bridge, they can't build, they can't offer more services to people who pass through, they can't grow their tourism industry, and they can't grow past 14,000. The bridge would be an investment in the future and I think it would be well worth it. Palin did no favor to the Alaskan people by throwing Ketchikan under the bus.

It is still a Bridge to Nowhere. Look at all the aging bridges and road infrastructure we have elsewhere in the country. There are hundreds of bridges in need of rehabs or replacement, that are servicing 100's of Millions of commuters yearly in this country. And yet this mayor thinks it's important we spend huge piles of taxpayer money for a pitiful community of 14,000. I want my tax money spent on the major bridges and roads that support the major aspects of the US economy, not some rinky-dink area out where the Caribou outnumber to people.

Thanks for giving another side to this story. I particularly like your line that no matter what happens in two weeks on Nov. 4, we will forgive her. Live and let live; we are all in this together. Good luck with the bridge; it does sound like you could use it.

If a bridge is necessary, find a funding institution to issue a revenue bond. Give investors an opportunity to fund the bridge, and in exchange let those investors have a stake in the bridge and allow them to profit from it. If a bond is unpalatable, increase airport user fees and passenger facility charges to fund the road...that way the burden for funding the bridge falls solely on those who would utilize the airport. This is often the case when new roads are constructed to other airports around the country, or when airports are upgraded. Assuming his numbers are correct that 250,000 pass through the airport every year, a PFC increase of 2 dollars annually would yield $500K in 1 year, PFC increase of $4 would yield 1 million in a year, and so on. This could be used to repay bond investors or to fund the construction. This could be further increased by adding a 1 dollar increase to the port charges on the 1 million visitors who come on cruise ships. Don't burden every taxpayer in the U.S. for something thatt will not benefit all of us. Give investors a chance, or limit the expense to those who would use the facilities. As an example, I am from Memphis, TN... We were in major need of a new airport terminal. We did not expect every taxpayer to fund that....the port authority issued bonds and is in the process of repaying them with income from higher PFC charges. At the same time, as a bondowner, I am able to profit from it, and the burden for funding the improvements lied squarely on users of the airport, not the Memphis or Tennessee taxpayer or federal taxpayer.

vickym - totally agree! No disrespect intended to 99% of Alaskans, but if you have enough $$$ to give every resident a check, spend it on the bridge instead if it's that important for the state. I'm also guessing, 99% of Alaskans are self-sufficient and don't want the government's help and want less...not more...government in their lives.

Each state gets funding from the federal government through the US Department of Transportation for highways and bridges. The federal funds can be as high as 75% matched with state funds at 25%. Earmarks are funded at 100% of federal funds. Since Republicans claim to want less federal government, I would expect your preferred method is through annual transportation funding. Since each Alaskan citizen gets a check from your state governments for your oil reserves, I suggest you take than money instead and spend it on your bridge.

Reviewing the Mayors comments about "the bridge" I wonder about cruise ship and float plane traffic during the many years it will take to construct a bridge. Are the cruise ships going to bypass Ketchikan after $$$ has been spent to redo the port area? I know Tongass Narrows is very deep, over 400' I've been told. This will be no small or inexpensive task. On the few visits I've made to Ketchikan, I've been amazed at how busy Tongass Narrows is. What's the plan? Is the bridge to be tall enough for cruise ships to clear? Will that create a hazard to aviation. It seems to me, more ferrys would be cheaper and less disruptive.

I've been to Ketchikan a few times. I assume the bridge is to be built acrosss Tongass Narrows. What happens to the cruise ships the Mayor men tioned when they arrive from the North or South? Will they go around Gravina to arrive at the port? Or willt hey simply bypass Ketchikan as it is a long ways around Gravina. Also what about the float plane traffic? Tongass Narrows is a very busy place in the summer, I think building a bridge is much less feasible than adding ferries.

Mayor Kiffer you make me proud to be a fellow Alaskan! Good luck with your bridge. For all you in the lower48.... We also pay the federal gas tax. The very tax that is suppose to help pay for roads and bridges. Texas is also a oil state yet they just received 679 million for their road systems. Spreading the wealth around??? Are you kidding me? Here in Alaska we are Americans NOT Socialist!

Why is there always uninformed and mouthy idiots on places for comments that could be emcouaging and helpful??

First of all to the cretin that is speculating on Sarah Palin and her family including her child who has Downs Syndrome, why don't you worry about the dirt in YOUR OWN closet? Stick a sock in your mouth and spare us your gross ignorance. Second - It isn't the responsibility of the taxpayers in the rest of the United States to pay for your bloody bridge or airport! It's time for the socialist programs and government control to end!

I am not sure if the bridge to nowhere will ever be built, but I do know that bridges are essential to development. The United States would be a far cry from what it is today if all the other states had to foot the bill for their own bridges.