The Alaska Commuter Rail Coalition is a grassroots initiative that began in 2022 to advocate for regular passenger rail service in Alaska.
OUR TEAM:
Cynthia Wentworth, is Anchorage-born and raised. She first took the Alaska Railroad to Montana Creek in 1960 to visit a friend on her homestead. In 1966, she and her sister Dana, both in the West Anchorage High School band, took the train to Palmer for basketball games. Cynthia has a Masters in Cultural Anthropology, and spent her federal and state career as an economist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Alaska Railroad Corporation. She began promoting commuter rail between Wasilla and Anchorage in the 1980’s. In 2002 she helped the Alaska Chapter, Sierra Club, establish and run a commuter rail planning committee. This committee, which lasted until 2009, was reenergized in 2016. It included LaMarr Anderson, and former Governor Bill Sheffield, as well as state and municipal officials. In 2018 Governor Bill Walker formed a commuter rail advisory task force. Cynthia and LaMarr were the two public members. Since 2022 Cynthia has served with the Alaska Commuter Rail Coalition, and on the Sierra Club’s national rail interest group. She is also a member of the Climate Rail Alliance, headquartered in Seattle.
LaMarr Anderson has lived in Palmer for the past 20 years and has long been active with various Mat-Su Borough citizen boards, community service organizations, and community improvement projects. He retired as Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force with 21 years of service. His assignments included Director of Manpower/Personnel, Hq USAF Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Mission Support Squadron Commander, and various assignments at the Hq USAF Manpower and Personnel Center and Strategic Air Command. Following Air Force retirement, he served in various civilian management roles. He served two terms on each of the MatSu Transportation Advisory and Mat-Su Borough Platting Boards. He is currently active on the Boards of Mat-Su Health Services, Mat-Su Council on Aging, Valley Charities, and the Mat-Su Salvation Army. His other community involvement includes Palmer Rotary, Mat-Su Community Orchestra, and Concert Band.
Andrea Feniger is an Anchorage resident and has been the Alaska Chapter Director of the environmental non-profit Sierra Club for three and a half years. She holds a BA in political science from The University of Alabama and is a Master of Public Affairs Candidate at The University of California, Berkeley. After growing up in the South, she was excited to settle in a place with abundant natural access. She is grateful to have the opportunity to apply her experience and passion to climate and conservation issues around the state of Alaska.
Joel Cladouhos was born in Fairbanks, grew up in Juneau, and has lived in Anchorage since 2008. He has a background is economic development with an undergraduate degree in economics from Grinnell College and his MBA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Joel envisions a strategic and sustainable economy in Alaska that includes the blue economy, clean energy, regenerative tourism, outdoor recreation and local food systems. He is currently active on the boards of Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, Alaska Natural Resources and Outdoor Education, Winterberry Parent Guild, and Rabbit Creek Community Council.
commuterrailak.com 