Transportation

Members of Hoffman Silver Gilman & Blasco have represented many clients in issues of transportation in many venues in Alaska and Washington, DC.  This representation has involved a variety of issues:

• Siting and funding of airports
• Siting and permitting of highway projects
• Siting and permitting of bridge projects
• Siting and permitting of ferry and hovercraft projects
• Amendments to federal transportation legislation including federal highway bills, federal aviation bills, and maritime transportation bills including the Jones Act and Maritime Administration bills

This wide-ranging experience allows the firm to successfully represent clients before state and federal agencies, before the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, and in federal and state courts.  Members of the firm have successfully represented clients in all of these venues and have full experience to provide this representation.

Facilitating transport of people and natural resources

Members of the firm have extensive histories of working successfully on transportation issues with members of Congress and government agencies from Alaska to Washington, DC.  Whether the project involves roads, bridges, water transport, airplanes, or a pipeline, there are often questions of right-of-way and environmental impact.  The firm assists with these projects by working with many national and local administrative bodies, including—

Complex transportation and right-of-way projects

Hoffman Silver Gilman & Blasco have represented diverse clients including mining companies, the Alaska timber industry, and city and tribal governing bodies to secure permits for vital transportation and right-of way projects:

Road construction—Connecting the city of King Cove with Cold Bay Airport was a health and safety issue for residents.  Hoffman Silver Gilman & Blasco was able to negotiate a land exchange and permits needed for the project despite vehement opposition from environmental groups. 

Hovercraft—The King Cove to Cold Bay project also required the sitting of a hovercraft dock to allow residents to reach an airport.

Pipeline, transportation, and utility corridors—As staff attorney for the joint federal/state Land Use Planning Commission for Alaska, Mr. Silver was instrumental in securing federal right-of-way for the Trans Alaska Pipeline.

Air and surface traffic—Our lawyers also worked on the revamping of the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control system and on surface transportation matters for the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

Airline industry—We helped steer the aviation transition package and emergency funding during the aftermath of September 11, 2001.