Transportation Alaska

1 transportation

1.1 roads
1.2 rail
1.3 marine transport
1.4 air transport
1.5 other transport
1.6 data transport

transportation

the sterling highway, near intersection seward highway.



roads


the susitna river bridge on denali highway 1,036 feet (316 m) long.



alaska interstate highways.

alaska has few road connections compared rest of u.s. state s road system covers relatively small area of state, linking central population centers , alaska highway, principal route out of state through canada. state capital, juneau, not accessible road, car ferry, has spurred several debates on decades moving capital city on road system, or building road connection haines. western part of alaska has no road system connecting communities rest of alaska.

alaska welcome sign on klondike highway.

one unique feature of alaska highway system anton anderson memorial tunnel, active alaska railroad tunnel upgraded provide paved roadway link isolated community of whittier on prince william sound seward highway 50 miles (80 km) southeast of anchorage @ portage. @ 2.5 miles (4.0 km), tunnel longest road tunnel in north america until 2007. tunnel longest combination road , rail tunnel in north america.

rail

an alaska railroad locomotive , tanker cars crossing george parks highway in 1994.



the white pass , yukon route traverses rugged terrain north of skagway near canada–us border.

built around 1915, alaska railroad (arr) played key role in development of alaska through 20th century. links north pacific shipping through providing critical infrastructure tracks run seward interior alaska way of south central alaska, passing through anchorage, eklutna, wasilla, talkeetna, denali, , fairbanks, spurs whittier, palmer , north pole. cities, towns, villages, , region served arr tracks known statewide railbelt . in recent years, ever-improving paved highway system began eclipse railroad s importance in alaska s economy.

the railroad played vital role in alaska s development, moving freight alaska while transporting natural resources southward (i.e., coal usibelli coal mine near healy seward , gravel matanuska valley anchorage). known summertime tour passenger service.

the alaska railroad 1 of last railroads in north america use cabooses in regular service , still uses them on gravel trains. continues offer 1 of last flag stop routes in country. stretch of 60 miles (100 km) of track along area north of talkeetna remains inaccessible road; railroad provides transportation rural homes , cabins in area. until construction of parks highway in 1970s, railroad provided land access of region along entire route.

in northern southeast alaska, white pass , yukon route partly runs through state skagway northwards canada (british columbia , yukon territory), crossing border @ white pass summit. line used tourists, arriving cruise liner @ skagway. featured in 1983 bbc television series great little railways.

the alaska rail network not connected outside. in 2000, u.s. congress authorized $6 million study feasibility of rail link between alaska, canada, , lower 48.

alaska rail marine provides car float service between whittier , seattle.

marine transport

many cities, towns , villages in state not have road or highway access; modes of access involve travel air, river, or sea.

the mv tustumena (named after tustumena glacier) 1 of state s many ferries, providing service between kenai peninsula, kodiak island , aleutian chain.

alaska s well-developed state-owned ferry system (known alaska marine highway) serves cities of southeast, gulf coast , alaska peninsula. ferries transport vehicles passengers. system operates ferry service bellingham, washington , prince rupert, british columbia in canada through inside passage skagway. inter-island ferry authority serves important marine link many communities in prince of wales island region of southeast , works in concert alaska marine highway.

in recent years, cruise lines have created summertime tourism market, connecting pacific northwest southeast alaska and, lesser degree, towns along alaska s gulf coast. population of ketchikan may rise on 10,000 people on many days during summer, 4 large cruise ships @ time can dock, debarking thousands of passengers.

air transport

cities not served road, sea, or river can reached air, foot, dogsled, or snowmachine, accounting alaska s extremely developed bush air services—an alaskan novelty. anchorage and, lesser extent fairbanks, served many major airlines. because of limited highway access, air travel remains efficient form of transportation in , out of state. anchorage completed extensive remodeling , construction @ ted stevens anchorage international airport accommodate upsurge in tourism (in 2012–2013, alaska received 2 million visitors).

regular flights villages , towns within state commercially viable challenging provide, heavily subsidized federal government through essential air service program. alaska airlines major airline offering in-state travel jet service (sometimes in combination cargo , passenger boeing 737-400s) anchorage , fairbanks regional hubs bethel, nome, kotzebue, dillingham, kodiak, , other larger communities major southeast , alaska peninsula communities.

a bombardier dash 8, operated era alaska, on approach ted stevens anchorage international airport.

the bulk of remaining commercial flight offerings come small regional commuter airlines such ravn alaska, penair, , frontier flying service. smallest towns , villages must rely on scheduled or chartered bush flying services using general aviation aircraft such cessna caravan, popular aircraft in use in state. of service can attributed alaska bypass mail program subsidizes bulk mail delivery alaskan rural communities. program requires 70% of subsidy go carriers offer passenger service communities.

many communities have small air taxi services. these operations originated demand customized transport remote areas. perhaps quintessentially alaskan plane bush seaplane. world s busiest seaplane base lake hood, located next ted stevens anchorage international airport, flights bound remote villages without airstrip carry passengers, cargo, , many items stores , warehouse clubs. in 2006 alaska had highest number of pilots per capita of u.s. state.

other transport

another alaskan transportation method dogsled. in modern times (that is, time after mid-late 1920s), dog mushing more of sport true means of transportation. various races held around state, best known iditarod trail sled dog race, 1,150-mile (1,850 km) trail anchorage nome (although distance varies year year, official distance set @ 1,049 miles or 1,688 km). race commemorates famous 1925 serum run nome in mushers , dogs togo , balto took much-needed medicine diphtheria-stricken community of nome when other means of transportation had failed. mushers on world come anchorage each march compete cash, prizes, , prestige. serum run sled dog race more accurately follows route of famous 1925 relay, leaving community of nenana (southwest of fairbanks) nome.

in areas not served road or rail, primary transportation in summer all-terrain vehicle , in winter snowmobile or snow machine, commonly referred in alaska.

data transport

alaska s internet , other data transport systems provided largely through 2 major telecommunications companies: gci , alaska communications. gci owns , operates calls alaska united fiber optic system , of late 2011 alaska communications advertised has 2 fiber optic paths lower 48 , 2 more across alaska. in january 2011, reported $1 billion project connect asia , rural alaska being planned, aided in part $350 million in stimulus federal government.