Mayor Sam Adams just released his response to yesterday’s letter from the Oregon and Washington Governors which said basically, “CRC OR BUST!”
Adams’ says their gung ho sentiment and plan to convene an expert panel on the Columbia River Crossing bridge project are “disappointing.” From his letter:
We are asking for due diligence, not a do-over. We understand that time is of the essence. But we’re not asking for unlimited time.
The work we are requesting can be completed within a few months if we move forward together. And we do have some time. In the words of Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR as quoted in a February 12 Oregonian editorial, “There’s no sense of urgency about the Columbia River Crossing because there’s no pot of money available.”
More from his letter below the cut!
While the four of us do believe the project will benefit from fresh eyes, a review panel was not necessarily what we were seeking when we sent a letter to our Governors. We are willing to work with such a panel. But, we have other procedural and substantive requests that demand more meaningful local engagement. Several items need additional work, specifically:
•Tightening up the analysis of freight needs in the bridge area and targeting freight-dedicated infrastructure to specifically address those needs;
•Better understanding (through limited additional modeling) of the potential for sprawl on both sides of the river;
•Engaging a third-party consultant with urban freeway expertise to ensure we’re applying state-of-the-art problem-solving to the uniquely urban set of challenges posed by this project; and
•Developing a transparent cost/benefit analysis that addresses concerns repeatedly raised by our respective jurisdictions.We are asking for due diligence, not a do-over. We understand that time is of the essence. But we’re not asking for unlimited time.
The work we are requesting can be completed within a few months if we move forward together. And we do have some time. In the words of Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR as quoted in a February 12 Oregonian editorial, “There’s no sense of urgency about the Columbia River Crossing because there’s no pot of money available.”
Well done, Mr. Mayor!
The state transportation departments report to the governors, so it would be natural for the governors to support them. The real question is whether the governors can deliver the legislature. In Washington, Seattle projects get funding priority and they have plenty of projects. In Oregon, rural counties hold sway, and have their own pet projects.
As for timing, though DeFazio is technically correct, the WA and OR congressional delegations are well positioned in relevant subcommittees today to deliver transportation funds, and there is still a stimulus flow. That all could change anytime.
#3 sounds a little vague, but overall, I can’t disagree. Also much of the costs are in interchanges, are they all needed? What the mayors on both sides can resolve are the differences on tolls and light rail, including the sticky wicket of a West Hayden Island port, and get the legislatures’ buy-in.
Then there is dollar impact of carbon regulation…
“We are asking for due diligence, not a do-over.”
That’s completely disingenuous. What Adams and Bragdon want are additional studies by cherry-picked consultants who will give them the answer they’ve already decided on: the bridge should be small.
To say “I just want due diligence” when in fact you want a cherry-picked study is disingenuous, and frankly fools no one. In fact, all of you here understand what the results of these additional studies would be, and that’s precisely why you support them.
A do-over is exactly what they want. They want to do-over the large bridge, to call for a small bridge. To pretend otherwise is insulting.
“Developing a transparent cost/benefit analysis that addresses concerns repeatedly raised by our respective jurisdictions.”
The irony is delicious.