Reservations are open for booking under the Alaska Marine Highway System’s summer schedule, but meanwhile, according to the system’s website, there will be no service to Cordova until mid-April.
The summer schedule was released on Monday, March 2 following a public comment period held in January and February.
The only ferry in service as of March 1 was the Lituya, serving Ketchikan and Annette Bay in Southeast Alaska. The marine highway system has been plagued by a backlog need for maintenance and repairs, much of which was stymied by budget cuts by the Dunleavy administration.
Rep. Louis Stutes, R-Kodiak, noted in her Legislative Update for The Cordova Times on Feb. 28 that she had been able to get passed an amendment adding $18.7 million back into the AMHS operations budget.
“Although the increase will need to survive the rest of the budget process, adding it was no small feat and is a necessary step towards restoring adequate service levels for coastal communities,” Stutes said.
Stutes also noted that legislators had been informed by the Alaska Department of Transportation that an additional $23 million in capital funding was needed to get those ferries back on the water and allow the $18.7 million amendment to effectively restore service and eliminate gaps.
In his Capitol Report for The Cordova Times issue of March 6, Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak noted that the state’s supplemental budget currently includes $7.1 million to avoid a reduction in the operating schedule for the ferry system’s spring and summer schedule.
Meanwhile, the Tazlina was scheduled to begin service on March 5, serving Juneau, Haines, Skagway, Angoon, Hoonah and Gustavus.
The Columbia was slated to begin running on April 14 to Bellingham, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway, and on April 16, the Kennicott is to begin service to Cordova, Bellingham, Ketchikan, Juneau, Yakutat, Whittier, Valdez, Homer, Kodiak, Seldovia and Chenega Bay.
The Tustumena is not scheduled to be online until May 1, with service to Homer, Kodiak, Seldovia, Port Lions Ouzinkie, Old Harbor, Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, Akutan and Dutch Harbor. The LeConte is to begin runs on May 20 to Pelican, Tenekee Springs, Juneau, Whittier, Cordova, Valdez and Tatitlek.
Travelers may make reservations at dot.alaska.gov/amhs, by calling 1-800-642-0066, or by visiting ferry terminal staff throughout the system.
