AMHOB Letter on Cascade Point Terminal
The following letter was submitted by the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board (AMHOB) to the Legislature and Governor Dunleavy.
Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board
October 29, 2025
Rep. Bryce Edgmon
Speaker of the House
Senator Gary Stevens
Senate President
Mike Dunleavy
Governor
Alaska State Legislature Alaska State Legislature State of Alaska
1500 W Benson Blvd 305 Center Ave Ste 1 P.O. Box 110001 Anchorage, AK 99503 Kodiak, AK 99615 Juneau, AK 99811-0001
Subject: Findings of the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board
Dear Speaker Edgmon, Senate President Stevens, and Governor Dunleavy:
The Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board (AMHOB or Board) met on Friday, October 24, 2025, via Zoom. The primary purpose of this meeting was to receive an update from Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) management on ferry operations and progress toward the strategic objectives outlined in the 2045 Long-Range Plan (LRP). Additionally, the Board discussed the economic analysis of the proposed Cascade Point Terminal and its implications with regard to the LRP.
On behalf of the Board, I am writing to summarize our findings regarding the economic analysis of the Cascade Point Terminal and our understanding of the project’s status in the context of the Board’s statutory responsibilities.
AMHS 2045 Long-Range Plan
As reported following the AMHOB’s April 24, 2025, meeting, the Board approved the following motion:
“The Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board acknowledges that the Alaska Department of Transportation, the Alaska Marine Highway System, and the AMHS Long-Range Planning Team have consulted with the Board, providing continual updates as well as opportunities for input on the planning process and document over the past two years. The Board reviewed and provided final comment on the plan on April 5, 2025. Based on this process of consultation and review, the AMHOB endorses the AMHS 2045 Long-Range Plan. The Board recommends adoption and implementation of the plan by the Alaska State Legislature, Governor Mike Dunleavy, and the people of Alaska.”
Finding of Failure to Consult and Deviation from the LRP
Pursuant to the AMHOB’s statutory responsibilities under Article 3, Sections 19.65.011 and 19.65.180(f), the Board—by unanimous roll call vote—finds that, given the changes made to the Long-Range Plan without consultation and the continued advancement of infrastructure development for the Cascade Point Terminal absent more rigorous analysis, there exists a deviation from the Long-Range Plan for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
It is our concern this deviation will result in ongoing operational costs and obligations for AMHS, as well as the depletion of limited capital funds to the detriment of critical improvements needed at existing terminals across the system.
Given these findings, the lack of consultation on material edits to the LRP, inadequate planning alignment, and other significant capital needs throughout the Alaska Marine Highway System, the Board urges reconsideration of the steps being taken to advance development of a Cascade Point Terminal.
Please contact me if you have any questions or require further information regarding this request for corrective action pursuant to Alaska Statute, Article 3 Section19.65.180 (f).
Respectfully,
Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board
Wanetta Ayers, Chair
| 
