Ferry service in coastal Alaska is absolutely essential to the vitality of our communities. That includes not only the Alaska Marine Highway System, but also locally operated feeder systems such as the Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) that connects Prince of Wales Island with Ketchikan. For many Southeast communities, ferries are not a convenience. They are basic transportation infrastructure that supports jobs, commerce, healthcare access, and daily life.
When it comes to AMHS, my goal as Governor is to take the politics out of the conversation. Alaska does not need another cycle of debate about whether ferries are necessary. That question has already been answered by the communities that depend on them. The real question is how we create long term stability and reliability for the ferry systems that serve Alaskans.
That means addressing the fundamentals: scheduling reliability, operational funding, and capital investment. For too long we have allowed ferry policy to drift through committees and advisory bodies without clear decisions being made. We need to move beyond that approach and focus on practical solutions. While state resources are limited, I believe we must work directly with impacted communities to establish a realistic multiyear funding framework that supports both the Alaska Marine Highway System and community-based systems like the IFA.
Alaska is a geographically unique state, and our transportation policies should reflect that reality. A road serves Interior communities, and ferries serve many of our coastal ones. Road building efforts in Southeast, along with bridges and even the potential for modern tunneling, will reduce the need for some ferry routes. Until then, State policy should recognize both as essential infrastructure. Again, this is not a question in my mind, but a mandate.
I believe good policy starts by listening to the people who actually rely on these systems. That means not only the Department of Transportation, but also local governments, businesses, tribal organizations, and the communities that depend on ferry service. If there are regulatory, operational, or other policy changes that can help strengthen existing systems or make it easier for communities to develop feeder ferry services like the IFA, I will vigorously pursue those options.
I look forward to working closely with the Legislature and with coastal communities across Alaska to ensure that ferry transportation remains a reliable part of our state’s infrastructure and economic future. I am be prepared to use all tools available to the Governor to keep moving forward and protect the connectivity and economic stability that our communities depend on.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.