Congresswoman urges IBR Program to extend comment period to bring more voices to the table

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) wrote to the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program calling for an extension of the public comment period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to bring more Southwest Washington voices and concerns to the table.

The Congresswoman also submitted her own public comment urging the project to prioritize congestion relief, the elimination or reduction of tolling, and a low-cost bridge that effectively utilizes federal resources. She also expressed the need to incorporate the experiences of rural drivers and commuters, as well as those for whom it may be harder to engage with the public comment process.

The public comment period is a critical opportunity for impacted community members to have a voice in this project. An extended comment period would give more people time to review the Draft SEIS and provide substantive comments, especially for those in rural communities or who haven’t had the time to follow the process.

“People who live in a rural community like mine or work three jobs to support their family don’t always have the luxury of keeping up with an administrative process or showing up to a public hearing. As a small business owner running a six-bay auto shop, I sure wouldn’t have heard about or had the time to give my input for this project, even though I’d be impacted,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “This bridge is an investment in our community and a statement of our values, so we’ve got to ensure the bridge is built for the people who live here, not to meet outside influences. By extending the comment period, we can get input that more accurately reflects Southwest Washington, not just folks who have time to follow this issue, find the right link, and make a comment. We need folks from all backgrounds at the table.”

The effort comes after Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez helped secure $2.099 in federal funding for the project, including a $1.499 billion Bridge Investment Program (BIP) grant in July and a $600 million Mega grant in December. Earlier this month, the Congresswoman held a replacement roundtable with local community, trades, and small business leaders to discuss local priorities.

“My neighbors, the people I talk to, share concerns about the cost of the project, the addition of bells and whistles, how potential tolling could impact their family budget, and the need for additional vehicular capacity. In my home county, Skamania County, around 80 percent of employed people who live in the county commute outside of the county for work. Light rail and bus rapid transit will not be options for my neighbors and people that live outside of the urban core,” wrote Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez in her public comment letter. “I strongly urge the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program Leadership to conduct outreach to rural communities and make sure their voices are heard during this process. Those of us who live in rural Southwest Washington also rely on and use the I-5 Bridge and we deserve to be able to get to work on time, not miss Little League games, and be with our families.”

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez released a statement earlier this month expressing her concerns about tolling proposals for the new bridge. Last month, she urged the IBR Program to prioritize Southwest Washington bridge users’ concerns in the final project design – both through the cost-effective use of resources to eliminate or limit tolling and increased vehicular capacity to reduce congestion.

The I-5 Bridge is a crucial linchpin in both the regional and national economy and plays a vital role in transporting freight along the I-5 corridor. $132 million worth of freight crossed the I-5 Bridge daily in 2020 and 131,747 vehicles crossed each weekday in 2021.

Despite the bridge’s importance, the I-5 Bridge is rated the worst truck bottleneck in Washington and Oregon and the fifth-worst on the West Coast. With seven to 10 hours of traffic daily and a crash rate more than three times higher than Washington averages, it is critical that the final project design effectively and economically addresses congestion for local drivers, commuters, and truckers.

Full text of Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s letter requesting an extension of the public comment period can be found here.

Full text of Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s public comment can be found here.