AMHS proposes new schedule cutting service to Prince William Sound all winter

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The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) released its draft schedule for winter services in the midst of a $44 million dollar cut from the legislature, and it puts the communities of Prince William Sound entirely without service from October 1 to April 1.

See the new proposed schedule

here.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation, under which the AMHS is administered, said that the eliminations were necessary under the 31% cut in revenue.

“Revenue generation now has to be a significant factor in determining scheduling,” she said.

She also noted that focusing on profitability is a change from the traditional role of AMHS, which determined scheduling based on community need rather than profitability.

“It is a fundamental change in the services provided,” she noted.

The draft schedule will be subject to a comment period before it is finalized in mid to late August. For written comments, the period will last until July 26. Subsequently there will be two public teleconferences on July 29.

Comments can be emailed to dot.amhs.comments@alaska.gov.