Letter: Brad Benton’s approach to TOLLS and fiscal responsibility

Area resident Justine Stimmel believes Brad Benton will be diligent with the people’s resources in the State Senate and will always put the people of SW Washington first

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

It was estimated in the previous Columbia River Crossing (CRC) that roughly 35,000 vehicles will divert to the FREE I-205 Bridge when they toll the I-5 Bridge. That will cause nightmare traffic jams on our east-west arterials in addition to the I-205 Bridge. The current plan indicates they will start tolling as construction begins in 2026. Once the bridge is paid off, tolls will remain for maintenance.

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR) offers no alternatives to tolling. The cost to collect tolls can run from 20-70% of the money you pay compared to a 1 percent collection cost with the gas tax.

Like over 70,000 people in SW Washington, Brad Benton works in Portland. He understands firsthand how financially devastating it would be to have to pay up to $2,500 a year in tolls just to go to work. Tolls are a regressive tax, harming hard working low- and middle-income families the most.

Add to this the Oregon state income tax. Clark County residents paid over $300 million to Oregon in 2022, the most recent data available. Clearly the combination of tolling and income taxes is untenable for the average family.

I appreciate Brad Benton’s approach to fiscal responsibility and discretion to spend our tax dollars wisely. He’s running for the Washington State Senate in the 18^th Legislative District.

The Oregon and Washington State Transportation commissions will set toll prices and are offering four options. They range from $1.55 to the most expensive at $4.70 per crossing. If you cross the bridge twice a day, 5 days a week, that will be $2,350 a year.

The everyday driver will suffer the most for this entire proposal. The $9.40 daily tolls will take $168 million a year out of the local economy. Sadly, the IBRP proposal will not save people any travel time. In fact, they estimate hours of traffic congestion will increase by 30 percent or more by 2045.

Saving time and reducing traffic congestion is the people’s No. 1 priority. Yet the special interest consultants running the IBRP show no signs of listening to the people who pay the taxes for the roads and drive on them too.

Portland has the 8th worst congestion in the US. Sadly, the goal of the IBR appears to be to make it even worse. Their $7.5 billion proposal is an outrageous expenditure of our money. I appreciate that Brad Benton is in support of a third bridge to reduce traffic congestion and opposes regressive tolls.

The two states are building a bridge at Hood River for $530 million. There is no need to spend 15 times that much. Eliminating the $2 billion light rail extension would save over a quarter of the cost, eliminating the need for tolls.

Solution No. 1 is NO TOLLS – it would be a burden to families while they are already trying to make ends meet. We must be mindful of the everyday driver that utilizes the lanes on the I-5 Bridge, and more importantly, we must remain diligent with the people’s resources. Brad Benton will do this in the State Senate and always put the people of SW Washington first.

Justine Stimmel
La Center