http://unfnrailco.com/
I remember talking with Wally Hickel (1967) about building a railroad to Deadhorse.
We can now do this for much less $$ in a much smaller footprint than we think, if we think beyond the old heavy-rail standard in the initial stages of construction. We have new types of rail-bed ballast which is cheaper and of superior strength and durability compared to crushed rock. We also now have amazing tunnel technology which is rapidly getting cheaper to use... it's not far-fetched to think of subways in Alaska... a hi-speed subway from Kaktovik to Kotzebue under ANWR can unlock amazing amounts of stranded resources.
...a smart engineer knows if you eliminate the guys wearing neckties, the job can be done for a reasonable cost without headaches.

Alaska has become one of those miserable places where 1000 old lazy bigshots wanna sit behind their desk in the bored-room and watch 100 young guys do all their work for them... not a healthy lifestyle.