It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Friday, January 16, 2026.
Roads are packed. The Valley keeps growing. Decisions about transportation have been made outside the community for years. That’s changing.
Finally, residents can help shape transportation in the greater core area of the Mat-Su.
The 2020 census designated parts of the Mat-Su as urbanized. An urbanized area has a concentrated population of 50,000 or more.
This change triggered a federal requirement to form a Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO.
The MPO’s job is to develop a federally required Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the MTP. The MTP planning area covers the greater core area of the Mat-Su. This includes Wasilla, Palmer, Knik-Fairview and Fishhook.
Mat-Su Valley Planning for Transportation, or MVP, is the nonprofit managing it all. The group is developing a 20-to-25-year long-range transportation plan. The plan will guide federal transportation funds to improve safety, reduce commute times, maintain roads, and expand options for walking, biking, and transit.
MVP Executive Director Kim Sollien acknowledged that the Valley’s transportation system has been slow to catch up to population growth. The borough doesn’t have road powers. It hasn’t been able to make needed investments. The MVP changes that.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, DOT, receives $800 to $900 million in federal transportation funds every year. Sollien said DOT prioritizes how that money is spent on projects statewide, including those in the Mat-Su.
The borough receives a portion of that funding now that it has a designated Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MVP manages that funding.
Sollien said the Mat-Su should see about ten million dollars a year plus any additional funds that the state may prioritize.
Most importantly, Mat-Su gets a seat at the table to help determine projects going forward.
The MVP is a collaborative organization. Its policy board includes appointed and elected officials from Palmer, Wasilla, the borough, DOT, and the Chickaloon and Knik Tribes.
The MVP depends on community participation to help prioritize needs. Residents can share their transportation concerns through January 31 on an open survey and interactive map at mvpmpo.com.
There’s room for more voices. The interactive map allows users to point to specific problem areas or draw lines to show general concerns. Comments that receive “likes” are also tracked.
The mvpmpo.com website features videos and additional materials to help residents understand the planning process, how to become involved, and see the MVP in action.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for the MVP mailing list to stay in the loop. You can subscribe and participate online at mvpmpo.com.
MVP isn’t here to dictate solutions.
“We’re not here to tell you what to do. We’re here for you to tell us what you want,” Sollien said.
At the Lazy Mountain trailhead the restroom is closed, parking is limited, and the lot is hazardous due to glaciation. The borough recommends visitors consider alternate trails.
The extreme ups and downs of temperatures is causing glaciation at a variety of locations. Be extra cautious on any trail and be prepared for challenging conditions.
Monday is a federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Come celebrate at the Glenn Massay from 1 to 4 p.m. Learn about the history of the Alcan Highway construction during WWII, the first official example of racial integration in the U.S. Army.
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This Page Two article was written by Emily Forstner and read by Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.
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