3.0 Affected Environment - Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority

Knik Arm Crossing DraftFinal EIS
Affected Environment
eastern terminus of the proposed project; and the Point MacKenzie census-designated place
(CDP) in the southern part of the Mat-Su, at the western terminus of the proposed project.
As discussed above, the Mat-Su is such a large jurisdiction that smaller regions were
designated for this Study. Most of the effects of the proposed project on the pattern of land
use, population density, and growth rate in the Mat-Su would be expected to occur in these
portions of the borough. The regions include all of the Mat-Su south of Willow on the Parks
Highway east to Sutton on the Glenn Highway, including the Point MacKenzie CDP and an
unincorporated area between Palmer and Wasilla that has particularly high rates of
population growth and development and is often referred to as the Core Area.
A third level of detail includes the two broad jurisdictions affected by the proposed project—
Anchorage and the Mat-Su. The socioeconomic data are presented at this level because of
data availability issues and because it is likely that many of the indirect and cumulative
effects of the proposed project would be experienced at this level. In many of the tables, data
are also provided for the three incorporated areas located in the Mat-Su: the cities of
Houston, Palmer, and Wasilla. A more detailed overview of the components of the affected
area is provided in the sections below. The general boundaries of the affected area for the
socioeconomic analysis are shown in Figure 3.1, which also illustrates the location of the
regions, the Point MacKenzie area, the Anchorage Bowl Planning Areas, Elmendorf, Fort
Richardson, and towns in the Study Area. A full discussion of the selection of the Study Area
for land use is in the Land Use and Transportation Forecasting Technical Report
(KABATA 2006b). Transportation modeling incorporated in the analysis also included
reasonably foreseeable actions outside the Study Area, and land use and population modeling
included the area where increased growth is projected to occur with implementation of the
build alternatives.
3.1.1 Land Use and Ownership
The KAC Study Area is within Anchorage and the Mat-Su. Although Anchorage covers an
area of 1,961 square miles including Chugach State Park, and the Mat-Su covers an area of
24,683 square miles, the regional Study Area of cumulative and indirect effects and,
therefore, the Study Area, is confined to those portions of Anchorage and the Mat-Su that
would reasonably be affected, directly and indirectly, by implementation of the KAC project.
The Mat-Su and Anchorage portions of the Study Area—83 and 77 square miles,
respectively—are relatively small in comparison with the overall size of each jurisdiction.
3.1.1.1 The Knik Arm Crossing project and federal, state, and local government
planning regulations
Within the KAC Study Area there are many different levels of government with varying
transportation responsibilities, levels of planning authority, and regulations. This section
discusses:
• federal regulations regarding transportation planning in Anchorage, a Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO), and in relationship to the proposed KAC project
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