Lately both Washington and Oregon have resumed overdue talks about replacing the ancient Interstate 5 Bridge. I could rant about the past boondoggle, but that is a waste of time. I believe that bus rapid transit with a dedicated lane (no cars or trucks) is the best answer to relieve congestion. I now believe this is a better solution than light rail. New entrances and exits at Jantzen Beach and on the Washington side are a must. If there is tolling, it must be affordable to commuters. Washington commuters already pay Oregon income tax. Affordable means no more than $2 each way. That is $20 a week or $80 a month. That needs to be the ceiling. Period.
It seems to me that $17 million for a project office is not dollars well spent. Rents are high but not that high. Of course, the Rose Quarter will need to be fixed and other congestion areas such as Delta Park. This can be done but done fairly. A deadline for construction completion needs to be set. Hopefully no later than 2026.
