60 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

C-Tran asks TriMet: Please terminate light-rail contract

C-Tran has formally asked TriMet to join it in mutually terminating a controversial light-rail contract the two agencies signed last year.

In a letter to TriMet last week, Vancouver Mayor and C-Tran board chairman Tim Leavitt said C-Tran believes the agreement is "unenforceable" and should be terminated. The contract spelled out how the two agencies would operate light rail as part of the defunct Columbia River Crossing project. The proposed Interstate 5 Bridge replacement folded earlier this year.

http://www.columbian...-rail-contract/

[KevinKorell]

They will wait until the current bridge falls down from old age, and then in a pinch money will be found to rebuild it. The area's economy can't survive without I-5. I would hope they feel the same way about extending light rail across the Columbia River to Vancouver, WA and at least build the bridge with the ability to accommodate light rail when ready to do so. Maybe they should look at another solution for a light rail bridge, such as the example elsewhere in Portland where the Tillicum Crossing, Bridge of the People (yes that's it's full and real name) will carry only light rail and streetcars over the Willammette River within the next year (September 2015).

[Sloan]

Columbia River Crossing successor sought

Opposition to a proposed $3.3 billion multimodal bridge linking Oregon and Washington last year killed the controversial Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project, sinking additions to Interstate 5 road capacity and scuttling plans to extend MAX light rail service into Washington State. But both ideas may yet get another chance.

http://www.railwayag...html?channel=61

[KevinKorell]

KATU-TV, Channel 2 in Portland, OR, 9/20/15:

 

Can Oregon afford to pay back $450M for CRC?

 

 

A bill approving a new Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River would authorize $450 million in bonds to pay for Oregon's share, but it doesn't say how the state would pay off the debt over the coming decades.

Story here.

 

It's been a while since anything was posted in this thread. As a reminder, we are talking about a replacement freeway bridge because it would also carry light rail (namely TriMet's MAX Yellow Line) beyond its endpoint at Expo Center in North Portland into Vancouver, WA.     Now that the Yellow Line is linked functionally with the Orange Line, it would produce a one-seat light rail line from Milwaukie, OR to Vancouver, WA.

[Sloan]

 

 

Letter: Light rail sensible for Vancouver

 

As a four-year resident of Clark County, I’m aware of the negative opinion held by may locals regarding the extension of TriMet’s MAX into Vancouver. Opinion Editor Greg Jayne’s March 11 piece, “Light rail’s local unpopularity shouldn’t beg the question” brings about the topic without addressing it.

http://www.columbian...-for-vancouver/

[Sloan]

 

 

Letter: Reasons to oppose light rail

 

Why is it that Clark County residents (per precinct voting) don’t like light rail, as proposed by the Columbia River Crossing? (See Opinion Editor Greg Jayne’s “Light rail’s local unpopularity shouldn’t beg the question,” March 11, The Columbian.)

http://www.columbian...ose-light-rail/

[KevinKorell]

The Columbian, Vancouver, WA, 10/21/18:

 

 

Letter: No light rail, no bridge, no way

 

 

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, in a debate, echoed former Gov. John Kitzhaber’s famous words once again — “no light rail, no bridge” — when it comes to considering a replacement Interstate 5 Bridge. Her insensitivity to concerns of Southwest Washington residents is outrageous.

 

 

Letter

[KevinKorell]

More letters about light rail over the bridge, from the Columbian:

 

 

 

Letter: Light rail makes sense in Vancouver

 

 

 

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.

 

Continue

 

 

 

Letter: Keep light rail limited

 

 

 

Why not use the current Interstate 5 Bridge just to connect to Jantzen Beach and let Oregon install its light rail on it?

 

Continue

 

Letter: Light rail here makes sense

 

 

Light rail coming to Clark County makes sense. Here is why.

 

Continue

[KevinKorell]

The Columbian, Vancouver, WA, 12/14/18:

 

 

Inslee wants light rail for replacement 1-5 bridge

 

 

As the renewed effort to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge has gained momentum, one of the key sticking points that helped sink the previous replacement effort has reemerged.

 

Five years ago, the Columbia River Crossing, a proposed replacement bridge and freeway improvement project, met its demise in the Washington Senate after lawmakers failed to fund the state’s portion of the project. Among the deal breakers was the project’s cost, design, possibility of tolls and inclusion of light rail.

 

Find this story here.

[KevinKorell]

Letter to the Columbian, Vancouver, WA, 1/15/19:

 

 

  Light rail is the way to go  

 

 

We need more grown-ups at the table.

 

 

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