SWAMC partners with Alaska DOT to establish new Regional Planning Organization (RPO)

   

Southwest Alaska communities will have a stronger, more coordinated voice in state transportation planning following the formal designation of the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC) as a Regional Planning Organization (RPO). The designation agreement between SWAMC and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) was signed September 9, 2026.

The new partnership establishes a formal framework for communities, Tribes, transportation providers, businesses, and other regional partners to identify shared priorities and participate more directly in state transportation planning. SWAMC will work with DOT&PF to improve communication, build regional planning capacity, and ensure Southwest Alaska’s transportation needs are considered as projects and funding priorities are developed.

Regional Planning Organizations are especially important in rural areas, where communities are separated by long distances and often have limited planning capacity. Through the RPO, Southwest Alaska will be better positioned to document regional needs, establish priorities, contribute to long-range transportation plans, and maintain an ongoing channel of communication with DOT&PF.

SWAMC’s planning area encompasses the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands, Bristol Bay, and the Kodiak Archipelago. Transportation throughout this vast, predominantly roadless region depends on an interconnected multimodal system that includes aviation, the Alaska Marine Highway System, marine freight, ports and harbors, local roads, trails, and other community transportation infrastructure.

The designation recognizes that reliable and affordable transportation is essential to community well-being and Southwest Alaska’s fisheries, seafood processing, tourism, maritime industries, energy development, and other economic activity. It also provides a new mechanism for addressing the region’s distinctive challenges, including high transportation costs, limited service, aging infrastructure, extreme weather, and the need for dependable connections to essential services and statewide markets.

SWAMC will guide the regional planning process through its Southwest Alaska Transportation Policy & Planning Board, bringing together representatives from across the region and its transportation modes. The board will engage communities and regional partners in developing transportation goals, evaluating needs, and recommending priorities.

The September 9 designation represents an important step toward a safer, more reliable, affordable, and resilient transportation system—one that better connects Southwest Alaska’s communities, supports its economy, and improves quality of life throughout the region.

The Board will hold its first meeting on Thursday, October 8 from 3 – 5 p.m. via Zoom. The public is invited to attend. Register here.