A bipartisan resolution that passed the Alaska House of Representatives unanimously is now facing an unexpected roadblock in the state Senate. House Joint Resolution 14, which supports the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and the Northern Rail Extension, has stalled in the Senate Rules Committee under the direction of Chairman Bill Wielechowski.
The resolution garnered support from every Democrat and Republican in the House, reflecting a rare moment of complete bipartisan consensus. It has strong support in the Senate — enough to pass the Democrat-controlled body.
The resolution emphasizes the strategic importance of improving Alaska’s transportation infrastructure, particularly for enhancing national defense capabilities at Fort Greely and boosting economic activity in the Delta Junction region.
The Port Mackenzie Rail Extension would add 32 miles of additional rail line from Port MacKenzie to the Alaska Railroad’s main line south of Houston. Following the Environmental Policy Act review, the Surface Transportation Board authorized ARRC to build the new rail line in December 2011. Construction on the first of six construction segments began in 2012, but Alaska cannot seem to complete a project because of political struggles.
The approved-but-not-built rail line is an extension of the ARRC system, which already connects ports in Seward, Whittier, and Anchorage with Interior Alaska, including Denali National Park, Fairbanks, and North Pole. The Matanuska Susitna Borough is the operator of Port MacKenzie, project sponsor, and co-manager of the project. Wielechowski is apparently being protectionist for the Port of Alaska at Anchorage, seeing the Mat-Su port as competition and thus killing progress in the state.
HJR 14 outlines several key priorities: Completing the long-stalled rail projects at Port MacKenzie and north to Delta Junction, enhancing military logistics, supporting Alaska’s agriculture and mining industries, and reducing energy costs while setting up the railroad for future critical expansions to the Lower 48, which is a priority of Congressman Nick Begich, who as vice chair of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, is positioned to advance this goal. Begich has specifically highlighted the potential of rail infrastructure to unlock production in energy, minerals, and timber, which he sees as key to lowering costs and fostering long-term growth in Alaska.
The House resolution also stresses the urgency of Arctic infrastructure development, citing growing international interest in the region and logistical challenges. It encourages Alaska’s congressional delegation to advocate for these initiatives in Washington, D.C., as a matter of both economic resilience and national security.
Despite this broad-based support, the resolution has not advanced in the Senate due to inaction by the Rules Committee, which controls the flow of legislation to the Senate floor. Chairman Wielechowski has not publicly explained the decision to withhold the measure.
Completing these rail projects would provide essential redundancy for supply chains, lower transportation costs, and position Alaska more competitively in the evolving Arctic landscape. They also note that the Northern Rail Extension, which includes rebuilding the bridge across the Tanana River, is crucial for long-term military logistics and operations at Fort Greely, a key missile defense installation.
The resolution itself is not merely symbolic, but is a key aspect to being able to obtain the federal grants needed to support the project, such as the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Gram from the national Railroad Administration. Such grants typically require legislative support.
Wielechowski, a Democrat, refuses to give the Republicans in the House any win, especially after his bill to create more election fraud was killed over the weekend.
With the legislative session winding down Tuesday, the resolution supporting critical infrastructure now appears dead.
