The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) plays a vital role in providing reliable and sustainable transportation services for Alaska’s communities and commerce and is a key pillar of the transportation system in Southeast Alaska. The Alaska Marine Highway System provides essential transportation to 34 of Alaska’s coastal communities, stretching from Metlakatla in the south, to Prince William Sound and the Kenai Peninsula in the north, and west to Unalaska on Aleutian chain. Only five of these communities are connected to Alaska’s road system making AMHS a critical transportation link for Alaska residents and businesses and nonresidents visiting the state.
Faced with challenges such as an aging fleet, rising costs, and staff shortages, the AMHS is undergoing major reforms, planning efforts, and a push to modernize its fleet and operations. Southeast Conference has been a long-time supporter of the AMHS and has a number of projects in which SEC works closely with Alaska DOT&PF to support their efforts to revitalize the ferry system, including participating in the development of the AMHS Long Range Plan, supporting grant writing efforts, assisting with stakeholder and public engagement, providing updates as necessary at the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board (AMHOB) meetings, restoring connections to the Canadian road system, and much more.
