Traffic, trains, tolls, and more—no one can get everything they want. Compromise is key, or else bridges get delayed for 20 years.
In this video, I meet Greg Johnson, head of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, to discuss the $7 billion project aiming to finally build a new bridge between Portland and Vancouver. Can everyone strike a deal?
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Sources cited:
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"What problems does this project seek to fix," Columbia River Crossing FEIS. Summary, p.S-5. Published Sep 2011
"Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement," Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, various chapters
https://www.interstatebridge.org/DraftSEIS
River crossing visualizations, Interstate Bridge Replacement Program
https://www.interstatebridge.org/updates-folder/modified-lpa-plus-next-steps/
"Toll Traffic and Revenue Study," Interstate Bridge Replacement Program
https://www.interstatebridge.org/media/mtelyxne/ibr_t-r_fact_sheet_03-28-2024_remediated.pdf
"Cost Estimate and Financial Plan" Interstate Bridge Replacement Program
https://www.interstatebridge.org/media/5pmgwcjg/ibr-cost-estimate-fact-sheet_03-28-2024_remediated.pdf
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Sec. 102, p.1
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Sec. 111, p.11
"Columbia River Crossing Project Bridge Review Panel Final Report" Prepared for ODOT and WSDOT by Thomas Warne and Assoc., 2011
https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability/ssb5806/docs/6_project_development/externalreviewvalidation/bridge_review_panel/brp_report.pdf
"Columbia River Bridge Vertical Clearance NEPA Re-evaluation," Columbia River Crossing, Dec 2012
https://www.interstatebridge.org/media/lusdwbna/crc_bridge_height_re-eval_122812.pdf
"Safety Assessment of Interchange Spacing on Urban Freeways," Federal Highway Administration, FHWA-HRT-07-031
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/07031/index.cfm
"Oregon, Washington move ahead with tolling plans for present and future Interstate Bridge," KGW News, 4 Oct 2024
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/interstate-bridge-i-5-toll-vancouver-portland-price-cost/283-f883efc4-c1fe-4e26-b9a2-d01c5e610f2c
Tri-Met Board Meeting, 25 Sep 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLtLiQL38UM
C-TRAN Board of Directors Meeting, 10 Dec 2024
https://www.cvtv.org/program/c-tran-board-directors
"John Ley on Washington Funding Oregon's Light Rail – Lars Larson Show"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9eMniBd4BI
"C-TRAN board balks at potential Interstate Bridge light rail costs" KGW News, 7 Jan 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWj1fnAd-do
"IBR Hayden Island August 10th Presentation" YouTube via Sam Churchill, 11 Aug 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwooLf55TSM
Letter from Just Crossing Alliance to IBRP, 6 Nov 2024
https://justcrossing.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JCA-Overview-DSEIS-Comment-Letter.pdf
"City of Vancouver awarded $30 million grant to cap I-5 as part of bridge replacement," Oregon Public Broadcasting, 13 Jan 2025
https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/13/city-of-vancouver-awarded-dollar30-million-grant-to-cap-i-5-as-part-of-bridge-replacement/
Bob Ortblad, Twitter post
https://x.com/BOrtblad/status/1554585597116698624
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Periodicals referenced:
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The Vancouver Evening Columbian, 15 Dec 1924, cover page
The Oregonian, 9 Mar 1958, p.30
The Statesman Journal, 30 Mar 1960. p.1
The Columbian, 1 Nov 1966
The Oregonian, 1 Nov 1966, p.14
The Columbian, 27 Sep 1972. p.A6
The Columbian, 15 Apr 1977. p.3
The Oregonian, 9 Jan 2002, p.D2
The Oregonian, 24 Oct 2003, p.C5
The Oregonian, 7 Mar 2005, p.B2
The Oregonian, 28 Apr 2005, p.D3
The Oregonian, 1 May 2005, commentary page
The Oregonian, 10 Mar 2006, opinion page
The Oregonian, 1 Apr 2008, p.S7
The Oregonian, 22 May 2008. p.17
The Oregonian, 2 Nov 2008, p.O7
The Oregonian, 10 Jan 2009, p.B1
The Oregonian, 5 Dec 2009, p.B1
The Oregonian, 3 Sep 2012, p.A7
The Oregonian, 28 Dec 2012, p.B3
The Oregonian, 30 Jun 2013, p.B2
The Oregonian, 5 Jul 2013. p.A1, A7
The Oregonian, 9 Sep 2018, p.A1
The Oregonian, 12 Dec 2018, p.A6
The Oregonian, 12 Feb 2023, p.A14
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Time sections:
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Floating Homes (0:00)
Happy 108th Birthday (0:45)
Jantzen Beach (1:59)
Public Involvement (3:04)
Columbia River Crossing (4:59)
Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (5:48)
Car Issues (6:33)
Transit Issues (11:16)
Tolling Issues (13:41)
Vertical Issues (15:21)
Horizontal Issues (18:27)
Pedestrian Issues (19:23)
Emergency Issues (20:13)
Structural Issues (20:45)
Bicycle Issues (22:02)
Comprehensive Planning Process (23:02)
Ecological Issues (23:33)
Timeline (24:23)