Sitka Community Profile 2006-2007

Transportation

Alaska Marine Highway Ferry

Sitka's island location means a keener focus on transporting both people and goods. For example, one can drive, fly or float to & from Sitka. It is possible to drive to Sitka from Seattle through the use of the Alaska Marine Highway System ferryboat, which leaves from Bellingham, Washington (north of Seattle). Similar driving connections to the remainder of Alaska utilizing the ferry are also common.

Other avenues of transportation include three different tug and barge lines. This is how 99% of goods get to Sitka virtually every day of the week. Each barge line maintains a separate and competitive sailing schedule, which gives Sitka if not daily service then every other day service to and from Sitka.

For the movement of people and some goods, Alaska Airlines provides a multiple daily schedule of 737 jet service to and from Sitka that includes three outbound and three inbound flights per day in the winter months and eight flights in / eight flights out daily during the summer months.

Sitka's Rocky Gutierrez Airport

The Rocky Gutierrez Regional Airport in Sitka is a class one airport owned and operated by the State of Alaska and open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The airport and runways are at sea level with a single 6,500-foot runway on compass approach positions 11 and 29. The airport is 6 miles from downtown Sitka and flight operations are open 24 hours per day. The airport has complete instrument approach systems including pilot activated lighting, GPS approach and LDA/DME approach systems.

The airport is served by Alaska Airlines, a major commercial carrier with connects to the West Coast, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, Boston and Denver. Harris Aviation and Air Sitka provide small float-plane commuter service to the villages, camps and communities within Southeast Alaska. Private aircraft can receive FBO services through either Aero Services or Harris Aviation, which includes aviation gasoline and jet fuel and certified repair.

Future expansion of the airport is in the works which includes realignment of the airport road, airport runway-runout extension and parallel taxiway construction. The Department of Transportation has completed its revision to the Sitka Airport Master Plan to update the status of the Sitka Airport Terminal. This facility is seriously substandard to meet current and future needs for security, freight, tenant spaces, and both aircraft and traveler parking. FAA has committed $1 million, and the Alaska Congressional Delegation has provided $325,000, for the Sitka Airport Terminal Facility Design. The City and Borough of Sitka is now evaluating how to fund the ineligible expenses anticipated in the total terminal upgrade, which is projected to cost between $15 million for upgrade of existing terminal) and $23 million for new terminal).