With a continued elevation in the cost of crude, the state has been able to refill the fund. This is a cycle repeated regularly in Alaska. And despite the fact that things turned out OK this time, that won't always be the case. The very idea of touching that gigantic bank account is unthinkable, though. The consequence is that Alaska is likely to face a structural deficit for the foreseeable future.
Routine maintenance continues to be inadequate and a backlog of repair needs exists.
There is now widespread recognition by both the administration and the legislature that additional resources must be devoted to asset maintenance. That's also what they said two years ago. The state's capital program is unusual in that the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities handles both highway building and construction of state facilities. There are dozens of public hearings and citizens can file their own capital requests. Alaska does a good job of tracking the major projects it undertakes.