The city of Vancouver will have a seat at the tolling table.
In response to a letter sent by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the Oregon Department of Transportation has invited Vancouver to join its policy advisory committee discussing tolling on Interstates 5 and 205.
The Washington State Department of Transportation, which already had a member on the committee, will also be upgraded to full voting member status pending a vote by the Oregon Transportation Commission Oct. 19. The commission last met Friday, the same day Murray sent her letter.
“We agree that an open and transparent public process is of the utmost importance. It is our hope that this committee will ensure that voices and concerns from both sides of the Columbia River are heard,” said Tammy Baney, OTC chair, and Matthew Garret, ODOT director, in a letter to Murray. “In addition to the open and transparent work of the committee, we pledge to offer the public opportunity to provide comment throughout the process.”
WSDOT had already appointed a representative to the committee: Kris Strickler, WSDOT’s Southwest regional administrator.
The city of Vancouver has not yet appointed its representative. But Jan Bader, Vancouver’s program and policy development manager, said getting a seat at the table has been the city’s goal since Oregon approved its $5.3 billion transportation budget. Once the city gets the official word from ODOT, Mayor Tim Leavitt and City Manager Eric Holmes will select the city’s representative.
“We’ve been in discussion with ODOT and WSDOT, and while we haven’t received any official word about a voting seat on the committee, the discussions have been positive and we are hopeful to hear a decision soon,” Bader said. “We appreciate Sen. Patty Murray’s support on this issue.”
Murray said she’s encouraged by the invitation to give Vancouver voting rights and a place on the committee.
“I look forward to the Oregon Transportation Commission taking swift action to grant WSDOT full voting member status, as well,” she said.
WSDOT spokesperson Bart Treece said the agency works collaboratively with regional transportation partners to develop solutions for moving people and freight to support a growing economy.
“This also extends to agency participation with the Value Pricing Policy Advisory Committee,” Treece said. “Our role is to bring a bi-state perspective to the discussion.”
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, remained unsatisfied, according to a statement from her office.
“This move doesn’t even come close to alleviating Jaime’s concerns, and she won’t be satisfied until we get acceptable answers on exactly who Oregon plans to toll, for how long, and what they’re planning to pay for,” said Angeline Riesterer, Herrera Beutler’s spokesperson. “Putting a few Washingtonians on a committee where they can be easily steamrolled by an 80-percent Oregon majority does nothing to relieve Jaime’s concerns.”
Riesterer said the Southwest Washington representative is also unconvinced that Washington’s committee representatives will have the best interests of commuters in mind.
“We’ll be watching,” she added.
