43°

The administrative order also establishes temporary advisory boards for aviation and for marine transportation that will provide recommendations to the transportation commissioner.

Authority over the state ferry system will transfer from the DOT's Southeast regional office to the DOT commissioner's office under the reorganization.

Murkowski has not appointed a new commissioner to the Department of Transportation but said in a prepared statement that the reorganization would provide better communication between the commissioner and the marine highway system.

"It is critical that Alaskans have more of an opportunity to provide input into how this department is run. By moving the Alaska Marine Highway System from the Southeast region to the commissioner's office and creating two new advisory boards we hope to bridge that gap," Murkowski said. "The new organizational structure should allow (the marine highway) to receive more attention from the department's top management."

State lawmakers and the Southeast Conference - an organization that advocates for economic development in Southeast, including its transportation systems - have been pushing for a DOT reorganization in the Legislature for several sessions.

During the last legislative session Republican Sens. Jerry Ward of the Kenai Peninsula and Robin Taylor of Wrangell authored a bill that would have created a marine highway authority outside of DOT. The authority would have been given 500,000 acres of land to generate revenue, but the measure never made it to a floor vote in the Senate.

The ferry system also used to be its own division within DOT with a separate director. In 1997, due to budget cuts, that division was merged with DOT's Southeast regional office and the director's position was eliminated.

Southeast Conference Executive Director Loren Gerhard said Murkowski's reorganization plan would provide more user input into ferry schedules and the allocation of vessels and funding.

"One of the primary objectives is to apply more public process in terms of how policies and priorities are set," Gerhard said. "We need a business plan, really."

Gerhard said the organization has worked closely with the administration in the DOT reorganization.

Shortly after the November election, the Southeast Conference was approached by the administration to help with the reorganization, Gerhard said. He noted that the administration implemented most of the group's requests, but said the organization eventually would like to see a board of directors with ultimate authority over the ferry system.

Capt. George Capacci, general manager for the Alaska Marine Highway System, said he is uncertain of the details of the reorganization, but added he supports it if it improves service.

"We've always been open to organizational improvements," Capacci said. "I applaud the statewide representation; it's not just the Southeast marine highway system, it's the marine highway system for the entire state."

Murkowski spokesman John Manly said he's not sure whether Capacci will be elevated to the division director's position. Manly said that decision likely will be left to the new DOT commissioner.

The reorganization of DOT came two days after Murkowski ordered a reorganization of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Under that administrative order a deputy commissioner will oversee disaster response and anti-terrorism duties.

More changes within governmental departments are also expected in the Department of Community and Economic Development within the next few weeks.

Manly said Cordova Mayor Margy Johnson, who was appointed on Saturday, will act as a new director in DCED TO oversee other divisions within the department.

• Timothy Inklebarger can be reached at timothyi@juneauempire.com.