Public invited to Interstate Bridge Replacement program virtual meetings and events in November

All meetings are opportunities for community voices to be heard, including an online open house

PORTLAND – Anyone interested in the bi-state Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program is invited to participate in public meetings and events in the month of November, including an online open house, an interactive community input survey, virtual community briefings and three virtual public advisory group meetings.

Anyone interested in the bi-state Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program is invited to participate in public meetings and events in the month of November, including an online open house, an interactive community input survey, virtual community briefings and three virtual public advisory group meetings. — File photo.

“We are asking the community to weigh in on preliminary design options to help inform the analysis and decision-making process for a new multimodal replacement bridge,” said Greg Johnson, Interstate Bridge Replacement program administrator. “Community and stakeholder input has helped define the desired outcomes for the program, and we are committed to continuing this two-way dialog to ensure we meet the transportation needs of the region.”

All public meetings and events are important opportunities for members of the community to share their feedback as the program works toward developing a multimodal replacement bridge design solution in early 2022. The IBR solution will include, among other things, a recommendation on the type of high-capacity transit to be included, the configuration of the Marine Drive / Hayden Island interchange, and how the new bridge will connect with downtown Vancouver. The IBR solution will move forward for additional analysis as part of the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

Accessible communication and outreach to broad audiences has been a recurring priority expressed in community engagement so far. To help achieve this desire the IBR program is offering the following opportunities in November to provide input:

Online open house

This online experience, which provides an overview of the process to develop design options and identify the multimodal IBR solution, is now live at www.interstatebridge.org and will remain open in the coming months to reflect progress toward identifying the multimodal IBR solution.

Virtual Community Briefings

Ongoing, extensive and inclusive public dialogue are critical to developing a bridge solution that best serves the complex needs of communities in Washington and Oregon. To support these goals, the IBR program will host four virtual community briefing sessions in which to provide a program overview and status update, and solicit community feedback and recommendations:

Participants are invited to submit questions ahead of or following the community briefings at info@interstatebridge.org, and take part in live audience surveys during those events. Full recordings of the community briefings will be available on www.interstatebridge.org and the IBR YouTube channel.

Interactive community input survey

In early November, the community will be invited to share feedback on design options currently under consideration for the replacement bridge and connecting program area. The online open house is designed to provide an overview of the process to develop design options and identify the multimodal IBR solution. It is now live on our website and will remain open in the coming months to reflect progress towards identifying the multimodal IBR solution.

Details are available at www.interstatebridge.org/november.

Advisory groups

Ongoing, extensive and inclusive public dialogue are critical to developing a replacement bridge solution that best serves the complex needs of communities in Washington and Oregon. To support these goals the program formed three advisory groups to provide feedback and recommendations. Group descriptions, November meeting dates, meeting materials and instructions for joining are available at the links below:

Community Advisory Group – 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021

Equity Advisory Group – 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15, 2021

Executive Steering Group – 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021

All meetings and public events of the IBR program are hosted virtually to follow the states’ social distancing guidelines for slowing the spread of COVID-19 and are live streamed on YouTube. Individuals without internet access have the option to call in to listen to the meetings. Closed captioning is available for all meetings.

Public input on agenda items at regular meetings of the Equity Advisory Group, Community Advisory Group and Executive Steering Group is welcome and can be shared via email, phone or online during each full meeting:

Email comments to info@interstatebridge.org with a subject line that specifies “Public Comment” and which group(s) should receive the comment.
Call and state “Public Comment” in your message:
- 503-897-9218 (Oregon)
- 360-859-0494 (Washington)
- 888-503-6735 (toll-free)

Comments received 48 hours prior to the advisory group meetings will be shared with the group members before the meetings, and all comments received prior to or at the meetings will be included in the meeting summaries.

To request an accommodation, such as materials in alternate formats, please contact the program team at info@interstatebridge.org or at any of the phone numbers listed above at least 48 hours prior to the particular meeting.

Free, temporary internet access is available throughout Washington for those who do not have broadband service. To find the nearest Drive-In WiFi Hotspot visit: www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/washington-state-drive-in-wifi-hotspots-location-finder/