CRC planners to hold two open house meetings in Vancouver today
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Vancouver citizens will have two chances Wednesday to weigh in or ask questions about the Columbia River Crossing project at a pair of open house meetings in the Vancouver Community Library.
There won't be any formal presentations during the meetings, but a series of stations designed to cover different topics, said CRC spokeswoman Anne Pressentin. Those will include a general overview of the more than $3 billion project, property information and next steps. Hard copies of the project's sweeping final environmental impact statement -- recently sent to federal authorities for approval -- will also be available for visitors to look through.
CRC officials have scheduled four public meetings this week: two in the Vancouver Community Library on Wednesday, and two in Portland's Hayden Island on Thursday. Meetings are scheduled to last from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. both days. Each will follow the same format, with visitors free to come and go as they please.
The CRC would build a new Interstate 5 bridge between Washington and Oregon, rebuild the freeway on both sides of the Columbia River and expand Portland's light rail system into Vancouver. The project is estimated to cost between $3.1 billion to $3.5 billion.
The Columbian will be at Wednesday's meetings at the Vancouver library, located at 901 C St. Look for updates here later in the day. You can also keep tabs on the discussion as it happens at www.twitter.com/col_enviro.
