Winter commuting rail service proposed between Anchorage and Mat-Su by a coalition
The Alaska Commuter Rail Coalition has unveiled a proposal for a two-year winter train pilot project, aiming to start in fall 2026. This pilot project, contingent on securing funding and government support, seeks to test the viability of commuter rail during the winter months [1][3].
If approved, the pilot project would involve two, six-car trains each morning and evening, stopping at Wasilla, Ship Creek, and the Bill Sheffield Alaska Railroad Depot at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The estimated cost for the pilot is approximately $10 million annually, excluding additional infrastructure costs such as a new siding at Wasilla, with the overall funding need potentially reaching $10–20 million or more [1].
Potential funding options include federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which typically require a 20% local match from municipal partners like Anchorage and Mat-Su Borough. However, gaining this local financial commitment is seen as a major hurdle, as local public officials have historically been reluctant to allocate funds for this project despite repeated discussions over the past 30-40 years [1][2].
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska's fastest-growing region with over 117,600 residents, is expected to consider commuter rail in their long-range planning process as local officials establish a transit program under a recently formed Metropolitan Planning Organization. In Mat-Su, more than 31,000 vehicles travel between Mat-Su and Anchorage every workday [1].
The proposed commuter rail service could potentially reduce gridlock on the Glenn Highway, improve safety, and decrease fossil fuel consumption. Railroad officials suggest ride-share vans that travel the Glenn between Mat-Su and Anchorage could potentially be used to shuttle workers from rail terminals.
However, the project faces skepticism due to decades of stalled efforts and past task force disbandment. Assembly Chair Christopher Constant expressed his skepticism, stating that it has been a regularly returning story without ever coming to fruition. The railroad first pitched the commuter rail idea in 2014 with no results [1].
In 2017, Gov. Bill Walker included a $4.5 million earmark to revitalize dormant commuter rail plans in his capital budget proposal, but the commuter rail task force was disbanded by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2019 [1]. The commuter rail concept has circulated for years, with no significant progress made since the opening of a train station in 2004 at the Alaska State Fairgrounds.
The current status of the commuter rail service proposal between Anchorage and Mat-Su remains in early planning and funding proposal stages, with no contracts or construction bids directly related to the proposed commuter rail pilot identified in the most recent Alaska DOT public records [4][5].
| Aspect | Details | |-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | Project Status | Proposal for a 2-year winter pilot starting fall 2026, pending funding and approvals [1][3] | | Estimated Cost | Approximately $10 million per year, excluding track work at Wasilla; total funding needs may be $10–20 million or more [1] | | Funding Options | Federal DOT grants requiring 20% local municipal match from Anchorage and Mat-Su [1] | | Challenges | Skepticism due to decades of stalled commuter rail discussions; local government wary of funding commitments [1] |
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