Haines Port Development

One of the purposes for the $120,000 legislative appropriation to the Haines Borough for port development is to create a plan that will help us make sound port development investment decisions on behalf of the Borough, the region, and the state.

Skagway has completed a similar effort and is now implementing their port development plan, called The Gateway Project. May 10 Skagway voters passed a $5 million bond for the port project. An additional $10 million is being pumped in from the State; and AIDEA is set to invest $65 million in the ship loader and terminal structure.

The September 2008 Skagway Port Development Plan report prepared for Skagway by KPMG, CH2M Hill and Sandwell found that Skagway was closer to Carmacks, Ross River, and Watson Lake than Stewart. This was dubbed "The Skagway Advantage."

We need to focus on articulating "The Haines Advantage." Haines Port Development needs to move forward vigorously but mindfully. Let's develop the region. We won't achieve regional strength by trying to play catch up with Skagway. Let's complement the "Skagway Advantage" and market the "Northern Lynn Canal Advantage." Let's signal sincere collaboration with Skagway and add a Skagwegian to the Haines Port Development Steering Committee. That would be a move guaranteed to win points on any AIDEA application! The Haines Advantage might be to develop as a regional port able to simultaneously serve the industrial and visitor sectors through water, road, air, and possibly rail.