In the Oct. 21 editorial “In Our View — Bridge Talks Take a Hit,” The Columbian criticized Oregon Gov. Kate Brown for insisting on light rail for an Interstate 5 Bridge replacement. The editorial claimed that voters have made their opposition clear several times. However, I believe light rail has only been on the ballot twice, once in the ’90s, and more recently as an ill-conceived advisory vote. In both cases, voter participation was way below 50 percent. Hence, I’m skeptical of the assumption that Clark County residents are overwhelmingly against it. I don’t think we know.
Just because the opposition is loudly and rabidly opposed does not make them the majority. Unfortunately, too, opposition has become a tenet of faith for Republicans, one which makes little sense. The ludicrous cry of the “crime train” comes to mind.
As one who did the mass-transit commute for about 30 years, the problem with buses as an alternative is obvious; they also get stuck in traffic, which happens all the time. A new bridge isn’t going to miraculously resolve congestion on I-5, but light rail would help keep more people off the road. It would be foolish to build a new bridge and not include it. Gov. Brown is right.
