Economic Plan

2025Southeast Alaska

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE

SWOT AnalysisTransportation

Meilani Schijvens Rain Coast Data

Timeline: Where are we in process?

SWOT & Committee

Economic Analysis

Goals & Objectives

Action Plan Review

Draft Plan

You Are Here

Priority Objectives

Resiliency

April 2020

March 2021

Transportation SWOT Analysis

April 29th SWOT analysis

The Southeast Alaska Transportation SWOT analysis was conducted by the Southeast

Conference Transportation Committee in two sessions: On February 4th, 2020 and again

on April 29th. Once the SWOT lists were completed by the group, committee

members were asked to choose the top two to three items that they felt were most

representative of regional transportation strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and

threats.

Strong, reliable airline services

Barge services

Tourism support/integration

Communication/partnerships

Alaska Marine Highway

IFA ferry services0.25 0.5

24%

24%

25%

29%

38%

48%

StrengthsAMHS funding/service cuts

Lack of regional transportation plan

Small population/low economy of scale

AMHS not reliable

Not enough exports/lack of backhaul

AMHS politics0.35 0.7

21%

24%

29%

35%

57%

62%

Improve AMHS services/efficiency

Regional transportation plan

New ferry service model

New road development

Better connections to Canada

Tourism integration0 0.7

19%

23%

29%

31%

33%

67%Demise of AMHS

Loss of state funding

Loss of political support for Southeast

Misconception of AMHS value

Regional population/economic decline0 0.3 0.6

26%

29%

33%

38%

52%

Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

Summary of Southeast Alaska Transportation SWOT: Top responses

Strong, reliable airline servicesBarge services

Supports tourismCommunication/partnerships with communities/providers

Alaska Marine HighwayIFA ferry services

Can-do/adaptive/flexible/creative attitudeHaul-outs and shipyard capacity

Federal fundingSupports Exports: seafood, mining, timber

Connecting communitiesStrong/reliable Multimodal connectivity/linkages

Skilled workforcePrivate sector marine passenger transportation

Postal service transportationRelatively affordable

Medevac services0.25 0.5

5%5%5%

10%10%10%11%14%

19%19%20%

24%24%25%

29%38%

48%Transportation Strengths

Reduction of AMHS funding/serviceLack of good plan for regional transportation and AMHS

Small population/low economy of scaleAMHS not reliable

Not enough exports/lack of backhaulAMHS politics

Lack of roads connecting communitiesLack of reliability

Lack of economic diversificationCost of transportation

Too many crew required on AMHSChallenging geography/weather/tides

Fossil Fuel DependenceSingle transportation provider dependency

Lack of coordinated schedulingDecline in number of small airlines in the region

Lack of qualified workforceSeasonal economy/demand

0.35 0.7

5%5%5%5%5%

10%10%11%12%14%14%

19%21%24%

29%35%

57%62%

Transportation Weaknesses

Improve AMHS services/efficiency

Develop regional transportation plan with communities

Begin new ferry service (new/different regional ferry model)

New road development

Better relationship/connections to Yukon/Canada

Tourism integration

Leverage tourism to grow ferry system

Electric vehicles/vessels

Grow exports

Improve freight

Reduced costs

Natural gas potential availability to region

Stronger partnerships/engagement/coordination0 0.7

5%

10%

10%

14%

14%

17%

19%

19%

23%

29%

31%

33%

67%

Transportation Opportunities

Demise of AMHSLoss of state funding

Loss of political support for Southeast AlaskaMisconception of AMHS value

Regional population/economic declineInability to work together/lack of leadership to develop plan

Deferred MaintenanceState/federal regulations (costs, permits, time, etc)

environmental groupsIncreasing costs

Opposition to roadsLoss of transportation/no alternatives

Tariffs/trade wars (global markets)COVID-19

Loss of federal fundingFreight reduction

Cost of doing business in Seattle (especially barges)0 0.3 0.6

5%5%5%

10%10%12%14%16%19%19%19%

24%26%29%

33%38%

52%

Transportation Threats

The Southeast Alaska Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

(SWOT) analysis was developed by more than 200 Southeast Conference members, including business, municipal, and tribal

leaders from across the region in February 2020.

Beauty and Recreation Opportunities

Tourism Sector

Seafood Industry

Rich Alaska Native Culture and Heritage

People and Southeast Alaskan Spirit

Great place to raise kids/families0.25 0.5

34%

36%

37%

38%

41%

50%

StrengthsFerry transportation decline

Cost of living and doing business

Transportation Costs

Housing: Not enough/Too Expensive

Aging or lack of infrastructure

Dependence on State oil economy0.3 0.6

22%

26%

32%

34%

42%

59%

Strengthen ferry connectivity

Mariculture development

Seafood products development

Cultural tourism development

Renewable energy

Improve infrastructure0 0.6

22%

23%

28%

31%

43%

50%Reduction/loss of Ferry Service

Fisheries decline

Poor leadership/decision making

Cost of living

Climate Change/Global Warming

Capitol move/capital creep0 0.3 0.6

28%

29%

33%

34%

34%

54%

Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

Summary of Southeast Alaska SWOT: Top responses

Beauty and Recreation Opportunities

Tourism Sector

Seafood Industry

Rich Alaska Native Culture and Heritage

People and Southeast Alaskan Spirit

Great place to raise kids/families

Wildlife

Clean Water

Access to Natural Resources

Mining0.25 0.5

20%

22%

28%

30%

34%

36%

37%

38%

41%

50%

Strengths

Ferry transportation decline

Cost of living and doing business

Transportation Costs

Housing: Not enough/Too Expensive

Aging or lack of infrastructure

Dependence on State oil economy

Energy Costs

Lack of road connectivity

Lack of jobs that can support household

Seasonal jobs instead of year-round

Lack of childcare0.3 0.6

15%

17%

18%

20%

20%

22%

26%

32%

34%

42%

59%

Weaknesses

Ferry connectivity strengthened

Mariculture development

Seafood products development

Cultural tourism development

Renewable energy

Improve infrastructure

Housing development

Maritime industry growth

Diversify the Economy

Grow food & harvest plants

Mining industry0 0.6

18%

20%

21%

21%

21%

22%

23%

28%

31%

43%

50%

Opportunities

Loss/Further Reduction of Ferry Service

Fisheries decline

Poor leadership/decision making

Cost of living

Climate Change/Global Warming

Capitol move/capital creep

State jobs/budget cuts

Declining/aging population/loss of youth

Radical outside groups/lawsuits

Housing related0 0.3 0.6

15%

18%

18%

23%

28%

29%

33%

34%

34%

54%

Threats

TransportationEconomic PlanSoutheast Alaska

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE

Questions?Meilani Schijvens Rain Coast Data