Transportation
wealthy. With marine and airports reaching all corners of the world and the rail and roads transporting
across the nation our economy has the foundations and infrastructure to stay strong
Congestion costs our economy millions of dollars a year.
Every night on the evening news the congestion report of our highways and bridges consumes our time, energy, and environment’s health. You can get anywhere in the world from Portland you just can’t get across town. This keeps us from attracting and retaining businesses, jobs, and people.
The I-5 bridges have no restriction, 60 years of life left and are worth one billion dollars
In 2005 the I-5 bridge inspection states the brides have no restrictions, 60 years of life left, valued at 1-Billion dollars, and are 4(f) Historical Resources protected for engineering significance
The I-5 freeway corridor south of the I-5 bridges are overcapacity which sends thousands of vehicles into adjacent neighborhood streets
The I -5 freeway south of the bridge through North Portland is designated as full, over-capacity and failed by the Federal Highway Administration Level Of Service (LOS) standard it is rated F several hours a day since the 1980’s. Portland and Vancouver have fewer bridges than similar sized metropolitan in the US. There are twelve bridges over the Willamette River and we need more than two over the Columbia.
Adding capacity across the Columbia River was the recommendation of previous transportation study. NOT to remove and replace the current I-5 bridges.
When a bridge is removed it is because of condition not age
When a bridge is removed it is because of condition not age. There are six bridges older than the first I-5 bridge and a dozen bridges in our area older than the 1958 twin bridge with still older bridges throughout the county and the world. With the I-5 freeway corridor to the south of its over-capacity for decades and the previous studies recommending adding capacity across the Columbia. The timing is right for a new freeway corridor bi-pass of the I-5 bridge and freeway plus connecting the ports and
industrial areas directly to each other and the I-5 freeway.
The I-5 Bridges are not the problems
Smart Bridge Committee News Press Conference http://couv.com/crc-light-rail-project/smarter-bridge-news-event
Several elected officials from Oregon and Washington give a news conference. This video is not meant to imply that speakers are members of the concerned citizen Smarter Bridge Committee. After the Record of Decision on the CRC none of the elected officials or bodies were willing to provide any funding and the ROD died.
Facts
CRC = Columbia River Crossing
NEPA = National Environmental Protection Act
The Third Bridge alternative was accepted into the Environment Impact Statement of CRC during the NEPA Scoping Process.
In 2006 the New Bi-State Industrial Freeway Corridor was an alternative in the Columbia River Crossing project formal known as RC-14.
Original Project Scope Columbia River Crossing
Rob DeGraff is explaining the scope of the Columbia River Crossing Project to the CRC Joint Transportation of Washington and Oregon Commission hearing. Stating previous transportation studies recommend added capacity as needed across the river NOT replacement of the current bridges. This statement is consistent with the Federal Register and the CRC Study Area map. The I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership Environmental Impact Statement.
CRC Project Manager Rob DeGraff
Rob DeGraff is addressing the Columbia River Crossing 39 Member Task Force at their second meeting in 2006. Columbia River Crossing Project is expected to analysis a Third Bridge Corridor. The question was asked about “Studying a Third Bridge Crossing.” The Project Manager clearly states that the Federal
Highway Administration is expecting it to be looked at and it will be brought in during NEPA Scoping. The Third Bridge Now Corridor was brought in during the Scoping EIS and was removed without being “vetted” deviation from the CRC Federal Register 2005.
“Third Bridge Now” corridor is similar in size to I-405 by-pass in Portland.
Freeway Speed 55 MPH
Lift No
High capacity on/off ramps Yes
Freeway 6-lanes 2000 per lane hour
Managed 2-lanes 2000 per lane hour
Heavy rail 2-track commuter and freight
LOS Capacity 200,000+ vehicles daily
Fully multi-modal bike and pedestrian
Alignment length approximately 7-miles
RC-14 BI-STATE INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR WAS NOT VETTED OR STUDIED
Confirmed by official letters signed by elected officials, from both of the Washington CRC Signatory Agencies. Letters include members of Oregon and Washington Senate and House, City Of Vancouver Council, and the Board of Clark County Commissioners. There is NO DATA consistent with RC-14 BI-State Industrial Corridor Alternative it was not vetted or studied.
Vancouver Port Commissioner Arch Miller
Miller made a false statement on the findings of the I-5 Partnership study and force remove of RC-14
This video is former Vancouver Port Commissioner Arch Miller talking to the Columbia River Crossing advisory task force committee. He is recommending in “his opinion” that the Third Bridge not be studied in the CRC study The removal of the Bi-Stat Industrial Corridor (RC-14) brought in during Scoping violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Miller made a false statements on the findings of the I-5 Partnership study. The official finding is to add capacity across the Columbia River. with a Supplemental or Replacement bridge.
The shock that an “official” would remove a community project from a formal process and get away with it!
Metro Council on the CRC DEIS Hearing Environmental Justice leader Ms Jerri Sundval-Williams
St Johns’ Review community newspaper Aug. 26, 2005 North Portland group expresses own ideas and solutions for improving I-5 traffic, by Gayla Patten Com
A few elected officials that made public statements during the CRC process that data they had received was inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading.
US Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler, Mayors of Vancouver Pollard, Leavitt, Vancouver Council Members Bill Turlay, Jeanne Stewart, Pat Campbell, Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Clark County Commissioners
Betty Sue Morris, Steve Stuart, Marc Bolt, Tom Mielke, David Madore, Multnomah County Commissioner Serena Cruz, WA Senators Pam Roach, Bob Morton, Jim Honeyford, Bob McCaslin,
Don Benton, WA Rep Bruce Chandler, Vancouver Port Commissioner Jerry Oliver, Oregon Senators Gary George, Larry George, Oregon Representatives Dennis Richardson, Mitch Greenlick, Jim Thompson, Metro President David Bragdon, Councilors Robert Liberty, Bob Stacy.
President and Project Sponsor Council member David Bragdon letter date May 5, 2021 concerning the numerous problems with the CRC process.
Why the big push to put Tolls on the I-5 freeway bridges?
Follow the MONEY and boy will tolls take our money!
By Putting Tolls on the main-line of the I-5 freeway for the first time it
will remove the “freeway” status from the freeway to a “Toll-Way”
allowing every town from Canada to Mexico to put TOLLS on the I-5
“Interstate-Highway” system.
Do you want your name or our city associated with ENDING the
FREEWAY system on I-5 Freeway and turning it into continuous
TOLLS the worst way, least efficient, and most expensive way to bring in
money than other funding sources.
NO TOLLS
ON
I-5, I-205, AND I-84 FREEWAYS
IN
PORTLAND, OREGON