Area resident Shauna Walters says, ‘If Vancouver wants light rail, let Vancouver pay for it’
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
For too long, Clark County has been dragged into Portland’s light rail failures. TriMet is broke, ridership is collapsing, and now it wants our taxpayers to fund its bailout. Leading the charge is Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, who has twisted the C-TRAN Board of Directors to advance Vancouver’s agenda at everyone else’s expense.
This isn’t regional cooperation—it’s corruption. Small cities like Camas, Washougal, Ridgefield, La Center, and Battle Ground have been stripped of fair representation on the C-TRAN board. Yet their residents are expected to pay millions every year for a light rail system they may never use. That’s taxation without representation.
The rot goes back to 2013, when C-TRAN’s leadership secretly cut a binding deal with TriMet. That contract gave away local authority, tied Clark County to TriMet’s terms, and even included a $5 million penalty if C-TRAN refused to comply. It was rushed through with minimal oversight and has never been undone.
Instead of fixing this betrayal, McEnerny-Ogle has doubled down. By stacking the board in Vancouver’s favor, she guarantees her city gets the train and the power while smaller cities get stuck with the bill. Now TriMet wants $22 million annually for operations—$7.2 million from Clark County taxpayers—on top of a $2 billion price tag for a 1.83-mile rail extension.
Camas Councilor Tim Hein said it best: “You don’t go into business with a partner that’s failing.” He’s right. The time has come for small cities to stop being bullied and walk away from this boondoggle.
If Vancouver wants light rail, let Vancouver pay for it. The message from Clark County’s small cities should be simple and united: “Not our train, not our debt, not our problem”
Shauna Walters
Vancouver
- Goodbye, bumpy ride on I-5 in Vancouver
Three coordinated WSDOT projects will improve more than 6 miles of I-5 in Clark County, backed by a $25 million investment. - Nighttime work on I-5 between Ridgefield and Woodland will replace damaged concrete panels Sept. 14-19
Granite Construction will close right and center lanes nightly on I-5 between mileposts 9.5 and 21.5 through Sept. 19. - County seeks volunteers to serve on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Clark County seeks two volunteers, including one youth member, for its Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; deadline is Oct. 11, 2026. - Washington Rep. John Ley warns ballooning bridge budget needs reality check
Rep. John Ley says the IBR ballooned from a $44M contract to a $13B–$15B project, with phase one still $2.2B short. - POLL: The IBR project is described as only 30% designed and 30% funded after more than six years of work. How confident are you in the current management of the IBR program?
IBR’s cost has climbed from $3.2–$4.8B to $15.2B while the project remains 30% designed and 30% funded.
