Two independent traffic studies with very different methodologies have been completed by the State of Alaska in support of the Juneau Access Initiative, one in 2004 (McDowell Group) and the second in 2014 (Fehr & Peers). The State supports both studies but the State says the 2014 study is the definitive study; saying further, “We’re not discrediting what McDowell Group did”; adding “McDowell Group had less information than Fehr & Peers” and “Fehr & Peers specializes in traffic studies, unlike McDowell” and the 2014 study “would be considered more accurate because this is what they <Fehr & Peers> do”; finally, “This is their expertise”. It does not escape notice that the State shared their opinion of the firms and said nothing about the particulars of the studies. It also seems unfair to McDowell Group, which has a 40-year history in Alaska, advertises itself as Alaska’s preferred research and consulting firm, is contracted with the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development to prepare Alaska’s annual Alaska Visitor Statistics Program, etcetera.
These two independent studies offer a unique opportunity to inquire into the reliability of each study and in particular the veracity of forecast latent unmet travel demand in Lynn Canal. Both studies were adamantly supported by the State upon their release. In this paper, the studies are overlaid and compared one particular at a time.
To download and view the full sixteen (16) page paper, please click here: Juneau Access Traffic Study
Thank you,
Juneau Access Initiative Traffic Study Comparison 