I have been reading about the restart of the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement effort and the struggles (again) with how to address adding transit to the project. I have written to The Columbian before about what I believe are options to address the dilemma (light rail or bus rapid transit) and still believe that adding a “light-rail capable” portion but instead used (for now) to support BRT could help bring all sides together.
I have been commuting to Portland from Clark County since 1996. During that time, I have seen traffic dramatically increase on both bridges with commute times rising drastically. I have also witnessed our population increase from 300,000 to 500,000 and the downtown and waterfront area explode with new growth and interest. Along with that, current projections show our county population could grow to between 650,000 and 750,000 by 2030, so we cannot miss this opportunity to replace a bridge that is way past its usefulness and safe lifespan.
