The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is advancing plans for a new ferry terminal at Cascade Point, as Gov. Mike Dunleavy works to bring access to Juneau’s capital city.
Located at Mile 42 of Glacier Highway, approximately 30 miles north of the current Auke Bay ferry terminal, the Cascade Point site would reduce travel times, improve schedule reliability, and lower operating costs for the Alaska Marine Highway System, according to DOT.
The terminal development stems from a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between the State and Goldbelt, Inc., a Juneau Alaska Native corporation. Goldbelt owns the surrounding lands, and the agreement established a public-private partnership designed to promote economic opportunity.
DOT is now entering a design-build procurement process for Phase 1 of the terminal, using state funds previously appropriated for the Juneau Access project. These funds are restricted for use in the Lynn Canal corridor, making the Cascade Point project a suitable match without requiring new federal spending or triggering significant delays.
The Legislature’s final budget cut money from the Juneau Access project, but that can be vetoed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. There was originally over $40 million in a fund for the project — a fund that has been sitting there for more than a decade. The Senate Finance Committee in May took $37 million previously allocated for the project. The press release from the Department of Transportation indicates that the Dunleavy Administration is not going to allow that reappropriation of funds.
Juneau’s Sen. Jesse Kiehl, who sits on the Finance Committee, barely put up a fight for his district.
But Dunleavy appears to be forging ahead on Juneau Access. According to DOT, the proposed Cascade Point terminal will:
- Reduce round-trip transit times to Haines and Skagway by over two hours;
- Lower vessel fuel use and operating costs;
- Increase the ability of the AMHS to run more frequent trips during peak travel seasons;
- Improve schedule reliability by reducing exposure to challenging marine weather conditions.
These improvements align with findings from the 2020 AMHS Reshaping Work Group Report, which recommended Cascade Point as a viable way to modernize service.
The 2045 AMHS Long-Range Plan also noted Cascade Point as a potential future asset, pending feasibility analysis. That technical work has now confirmed the site meets engineering standards for ferry operations.
Cascade Point is not intended to replace the Auke Bay terminal but rather to supplement it, offering greater operational flexibility and resilience. Officials say the dual-terminal model will allow the ferry system to adapt more effectively to seasonal surges and unforeseen service interruptions.
The concept for a terminal at Cascade Point has been under discussion for nearly two decades and gained new momentum in recent years. Since 2022, DOT and Goldbelt have worked together on environmental reviews, engineering designs, and land use planning.
As the project progresses, DOT says it remains committed to public interest and engagement in the planning process.
“Cascade Point reflects smart planning, strong collaboration, and the Governor’s direction to deliver meaningful transportation improvements for Southeast Alaska,” Commissioner Ryan Anderson said.
More information on the design-build contract and project timeline is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Ugh. Just do the road without moving the terminal.
Why can’t we just admit it is a road to help mining and not make the ferries crappier?
Oh wait. Making the AMHS crappier is a Dunleavy specialty.
Juneau is growing by leaps and bounds, we need to do something. It’s no longer feasible to own and maintain multiple ferries, especially the electric ones Senator Murkowski is advocating for. Good first step toward a complete road system.
If Juneau is getting too big, move the legislature to south central so the people will have access to the legislators. Then Juneau can still have the capital status, but no corrupt politicians. Make it a tourist town.
Juneau is shrinking, we have no need for a NEW ferry terminal a full HOUR OUT OF TOWN, it’s a corporate giveaway at the same time they tell you we can’t have up our dividend.
Bout time.
Growing by leaps and bounds? Juneau’s resident population has been DECLINING (almost a thousand since 2020 alone). Southeast-at-large is expected to drop by approx. 17% by 2050 with Juneau down to approx. 27,000 due to a mixture of increased outmigration and deaths outnumbering births in the region according to report by the Alaska Dept. Labor and Workforce Development.
Yeah, I noticed that myself. We are contracting hard.
I’m not sure what he sees.
RINO governor expands the government. News at ten!
RINO adds $40 million dollar project for the Corps of Engineers and a foreign held mine, while cutting our statutory dividend by 80%. Sounds correct to me!
The new terminal will allow a day boat to operate the route. This means one crew instead of the 2.5 crews needed to run the boat on the existing schedule. This will free up crew members to help staff the boat we have parked due to not enough crew. It will facilitate better service to all the other communities in southeast. This does not just benefit Juneau. It benefits the entire ferry system. Lower costs, less diesel burned, less wear on the boat and quicker service. Thank you Governor.
Just to reiterate what Dave said, the USCG limits crew to be on duty not more than 12 hours in a 24 hour period on inspected vessels. The current trip from Auke Bay to Haines/ Skagway/ Haines/ Auke Bay takes more than 12 hours thus more than doubling the labor costs. By freeing up labor on the day boats, AMHS will be able to staff other vessels that require more crew. Another big plus is the trip from Cascade Pt to Haines will be reduced by almost 50%. This is a WIN/WIN for Northern Lynn Canal.
This is stupid.
Move the terminal further out of town for…reasons? Really.
Either leave it where it is or just build the damn road already. This is the worst of all possible solutions.
Sorta sums of the Dunleavy administration perfectly. Stupid and pointless.
MA,
Actually, a series of roads and ferry terminals is exactly the answer for improved access in Southeast. For example, a road from Sitka to Chatham Straight would shave a day or more for a ferry servicing Sitka. In a similar fashion why not a have a Ferry terminal at Cascade Point, the highway deadends there already for flippers sake!
so if this was based on findings from 2020. Why did Dunleavy retrofit the Hubbard and Tazlina? Waste 5 years and how much money because you lack leadership.
This is irrational. Moving the ferry terminal doesn’t reduce travel times, it just makes it YOUR travel time instead of on the ferry. Your gas, your time. And what if your ferry still leaves from Auke Bay as the article alludes to now having TWO ferry terminals, then what is gained? Money spent, other people’s money. My money. Accept the fact that the road is the ferry system, and budget for it properly. And quit wasting money funding road contractors and builders just to make job projects.
Well as a born and raised Alaska, you folks have no idea what this could mean for we whom live in upper Lynn Canal!! We would have better and more frequent service, be able to actually go out for emergencies, for medical, not have a medevac, or USCG or National Guard come get us.Our sports teams could actually go on the safest method of travel, and make it to the jet service to get to the places they compete in! Our neighbors in Skagway, could be our ride over, and back, and we could too! As a senior citizen I saw our ferry service at the start, at a great advantage, As time came so did less and less service, more broken unfixable ferries. So with this proposed subject, I am in favor of doing the Cascade Point, those that don’t live in Southeast, you have roads, to get services, we have had limitations far to long! Our choice to live here yes, we still pay as much taxes, and road leads us up to Canada, or through it going north, it’s a long way to half way to Make Tok, over six hours, Anchorage is 13 to 14 hours. To Skagway 247 miles approximately! So please don’t be pressing the button, saying NO! Get the facts, make some folks find the travel easier to keep monies, emergency travel, doctor appointments easier, travel for our children and youth, for school functions! Sports,and educational trips, music and Debates, other swimming etc., come visit us, come move here, we did 48 years ago!! Lovely Haines.
Logical path forward for Goldbelt will be to use the State’s investment and develop a Cruise/Ore terminal. Then we can bring Cruise ships and ore ships and create jobs and and new mines, like the “New Amalga Mine.”
Best case scenario: State pulls out of project after doing 30 million dollar “dirt work” and does not build the ferry dock saving the government millions and not inflating the AMHS budget and spreading resources thin by operating two ships and two terminals.
This will allow Goldbelt to fully utilize the available waterfront and keep the public from interfering with their business on their land.
Beautiful…
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