In case it is not obvious: A deadline extension for progress on the Interstate 5 Bridge should not be viewed as an excuse for lollygagging.
We’re guessing state officials in Washington and Oregon understand that. But, being in a business that is beholden to deadlines, we thought we would provide a reminder — just in case.
The need for progress on a replacement bridge remains urgent and must be a priority for officials at the local, state and federal levels. As numerous observers have quipped, the I-5 Bridge is the only stoplight along the interstate between Canada and Mexico, and delays are only getting longer as the population increases. Congestion across the bridge slows commuters and freight transportation while hampering the area’s economy.
Anybody who lives in Clark County is aware of all that. But we like to provide reminders on occasion in an effort to keep the bridge replacement top of mind.
Now, Washington and Oregon have been granted an extra five years to make substantial progress on the bridge and avoid repaying $140 million in federal funding for the now-defunct Columbia River Crossing. That project was scuttled by the Washington Legislature in 2013, and the states have been slow to revive the process.
The Federal Highway Administration previously had granted a five-year extension that made payments due beginning Sept. 30. But with incremental progress this year, the federal government has extended that deadline another five years. Officials noted that the Washington Legislature provided $35 million this year for a new project; that Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has directed officials to engage with Washington; and that Oregon has committed $9 million toward the bridge.
Small steps, indeed. But, as they say, the longest journey begins with a single step.
Moving forward, policymakers must figure out how things will be different this time. After about a decade of planning, the CRC fell apart largely over what Southwest Washington legislators viewed as public opposition to extending Portland’s light-rail system into Clark County. That, in a way, amounted to cutting off our nose to spite our face, and it has left the project at a standstill.
In order to avoid a repeat of that Sisyphean failure, a local consensus must be gleaned among Southwest Washington residents. If opposition to light rail remains prominent, that likely is a deal-killer for Oregon officials. If agreement can be found in the inclusion of bus rapid transit across the bridge or a plan to eventually include light rail, then perhaps a compromise can be forged. The key is to make that determination toward the beginning of the process, rather than risk having a handful of legislators sink the plan at the last minute.
In the meantime, the deadline extension from the federal government includes some specific milestones: Launching environmental review of the project by spring 2020; completing that review and starting the right-of-way process by summer 2023; and beginning construction by summer 2025.
That leaves little time for dawdling in bringing together two state governments, two county governments, multiple transportation agencies and Oregon’s regional government while also providing for extensive public input. Meanwhile, questions about tolls, building a bridge high enough for passing ships and low enough to accommodate nearby Pearson Field, and mass transit continue to linger.
In other words, there is little time. Trust us; we understand deadlines.
