Opportunity to Advocate for the Alaska Long Trail, Ridge View Heights Subdivision Trails

UPDATE:

At its August 28 meeting, the Fairbanks Borough Assembly unanimously postponed its legislative priorities list, which included general support for the Alaska Long Trail. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has a story on the postponement and debate. The Alaska Long Trail was apparently not a part of the debate. The Assembly will revisit the list at its September 25 meeting. See the News-Miner story HERE.

The Ridge View Heights Subdivision ordinance passed by a narrow 5-4 margin. The Alaska Long Trail and the Alder Creek Hillside Trail, which are a part of the development, did not appear to be part of the discussion. The News-Miner has a story on the discussion and vote. You can read it HERE.

ORIGINAL POST

Alaska Long Trail supporters have a chance to support the trail at the upcoming Fairbanks Borough Assembly meeting on August 28.

The Assembly will be voting on a resolution to set its legislative priorities and will be taking action on funding for a subdivision that would incorporate part of the Alaska Long Trail.

Legislative Priorities

One of the priorities currently on the Assembly list is as follows:

Alaska Long Trail
To support the continued development of the Alaska Long trail though federal, state and private grants and to establish access though state and borough land.

If you support this ordinance please let the Assembly know (see more below).

The Issue

The Alaska Long Trail would create a braided trail between Fairbanks and Seward. It would be about 500 miles long. It would be braided in part to allow for multiple uses in areas that allow them. Decisions on what use to allow on the trails would be left to the manager of the land where that portion of the trail lies.

The trail would use existing trails, such as a portion of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, and forestry roads, such as those running through the Tanana Valley State Forest to the west of Fairbanks, and would build connectors in areas that need them.

The trail has been nominated as a National Scenic Trail. BLM is working on producing that study. Many groups, such as Alaska Trails, have supported that designation. Some groups, such as the Alaska Outdoor Council, have opposed the designation. The Assembly resolution does not address the National Scenic Trail designation.

The impetus for creating the trail is to draw outdoor recreation visitors to the state as part of an effort to increase the state’s outdoor recreation tourism. Trail connections and improvements would also benefit local users.

You can find out more about the trail HERE.

Resolution

See the resolution HERE.

See a Fairbanks Daily News-Miner story about the resolution HERE.

Ridge View Heights Subdivision

A financial appropriation for the Ridge View Heights Subdivision in Ester, is going before the Assembly at the public hearing on August 28. The subdivision incorporates and supports a section of the Alaska Long Trail and the Alder Creek Hillside Trail.

You can find out more about the subdivision HERE.

See the ordinance HERE.

Assembly Agenda

See the Assembly August 28 meeting agenda HERE. The resolution on legislative priorities is item 13i. The ordinance on Ridge View Heights Subdivision is item 13g. (In the online agenda you can find several documents supporting the ordinance.)

How to Advocate to the Borough Assembly

Testify at the meeting

You can speak at the meeting. You have to wait until the ordinance has its public hearing, which depends on where it is in the agenda. You can speak in person or by telephone. You have three minutes. People who sign up to testify are allowed to testify first. For more information on testifying see HERE.

Call or email the Assembly

To contact the full Assembly you may either send an email to the Assembly at Assembly@fnsb.gov, or use the Contact Form HERE.

You can also call or email individual Assembly members. Find their contact information HERE.

My Take

Below are the comments I submitted regarding the resolution about the legislative priorities and the ordinance about the Ridge View Heights Subdivision

Legislative Priorities: Resolution No. 2025 – 19

Dear Assembly Members,

I hope you support keeping the Alaska Long Trail on the Fairbanks North Star Borough legislative priorities list (RESOLUTION NO. 2025 – 19).

The Alaska Long Trail would help expand our outdoor recreation tourism opportunities while bringing benefits to local trail users. We need to diversify our economy to be less susceptible to the variabilities of a handful of industries. Outdoor recreation tourism, which includes “tourists” from other areas of Alaska, is an industry that can grow while keeping our quality of life. Granted, it must be allowed to grow carefully.

I am an avid and long-term trail user. I have seen problems of overuse in other states and countries. I don’t want that to happen to the trails I love in Alaska. I do not believe that will happen with the Alaska Long Trail. Once completed, people will be intrigued by the ALT and some will come to take on its challenge, but I don’t believe people will flock here immediately. Use of other long trails in the Unites States has grown slowly. I believe the same will happen to the ALT, especially considering the added expense of just getting here.

And I have seen the benefits of long trails in other areas, usually in the form of small businesses — such as hotels, hostels, restaurants, outdoor gear stores, and grocery stores — that cater to the needs of long trail travelers. Those businesses are also available to locals and other travelers.

Some people oppose the ALT either because they fear loss of hunting opportunities or because they fear that motorized use currently allowed on some trails will end.

I am sensitive about hunting opportunities. Some hunting opportunities will probably be affected along the narrow corridor of the trail once it is built. Studies have shown that when more people come to an area, some wildlife is forced farther away. But the vast majority of the lands around the trail will not be affected. Effects of the ALT are a far cry from changing hunting regulations in one or more game management areas. I believe the benefits that come with the ALT outweigh the minimal losses that it will bring. And some hunters will benefit from some trail connections that are built due to the ALT, such as is planned in the Tanana Valley State Forest just to the west of Fairbanks.

Re motorized use: Management of the trail segments will stay with the current land managers, which will be mostly government agencies. Trail segments that currently allow motorized use will continue to do so, unless a government agency decides to make changes. If it does, it must go through public processes, which include public comment opportunities. But I know of no changes planned because of the ALT. Also, the ALT is envisioned as a braided trail, much like a braided river, with portions having several routes that would allow for a variety of motorized and nonmotorized uses.

Finally, inclusion of the ALT in the legislative priorities list does not call for local funding or advocate for a certain type of use. It simply encourages support of the trail. I agree with this. I believe Fairbanks businesses and trail users will benefit from the Alaska Long Trail. I urge you to keep the Alaska Long Trail in the legislative priorities list.

Thank you for your service,
Eric Troyer

Ridge View Heights Subdivision: Ordinance No. 2025 – 20 – 1G

Dear Assembly Members,

I am writing regarding ORDINANCE NO. 2025 – 20 – 1G, pertaining to Ridge View Heights Subdivision.

I do not have strong feelings on the development of the subdivision, but I do have comments and concerns about the trails included in the plans. In particular, I ask for:
–A wider pedestrian access corridor
–Signage for the unconstructed trail easements
My reasoning is below.

But first, I am happy to see that plans for the subdivision take into account the Alaska Long Trail and the Alder Creek Hillside Trail. These trails, as yet constructed, will be important to the residents of the subdivision, the trail users of the Fairbanks Borough, and the wider trail-using public. I am also happy to see that the subdivision sets aside space for a public parking area and for greenspace.

It is gratifying to see how far the borough has come in recognizing the importance of trails and greenspace to our way of life. Thank you to everyone who has helped with that progress.

I do have some concerns.

Alaska Long Trail
My only concern with the ALT in regard to the subdivision is that the easement for the trail is not particularly attractive. Most of it parallels the Old Nenana Highway and a power line easement. Unfortunately, I don’t see a reasonable way to avoid that and still have a practicable subdivision. At least the section is short.

Alder Creek Hillside Trail
I am concerned that some portions of this trail may be too steep to create a usable trail. Also, some of that land may be permafrost.

Because the trail is on the edge of the subdivision lots with lots of green space to the south, I assume that the line on the map is just a suggestion and that trail designers can veer from that line to find the best route through steep terrain and poor soils. I hope that is the case.

Pedestrian access
I am happy to see that the pedestrian access easement is 30 feet wide. However, because that is also a steep hillside, I ask for a 50-foot wide easement. Just a little would need to be trimmed from Lots 10 and 11. A 50-foot wide corridor would better allow for a trail that includes switchbacks. A trail with switchbacks would make it easier to use and would better be able to shed water, thereby reducing erosion.

Signage for the trails
I understand that the trails included in the subdivision will not be constructed. While I am concerned about that, I understand the reasoning. Other funding sources are available for that. However, in the past some landowners in the borough have encroached upon unconstructed trail easements. Not everyone checks their plat maps before doing work on their property. Therefore, I ask that the easements at least be signed so that landowners know that a trail is planned for that corridor. I ask the same of the pedestrian access easement.