Camas resident Margaret Tweet addresses the I-5 Bridge replacement project and the views of current political candidates on the issue

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

In 2012, voters in every city in Clark County rejected the CTRAN ballot proposition to extend Oregon’s MAX light-rail into Clark County over the I-5 Bridge.  Ignoring these votes, a proposed I-5 Bridge Replacement (IBR) includes extending MAX light-rail into Clark County and tolls to cross Interstate Bridges.

Currently, CTRAN buses and vans offer public transit across the Columbia River and only about 1 – 2% of trips across the bridge use transit. Buses and vans will meet stagnant publicly subsidized transit demand for many years, and cost vastly less than $2 Billion plus estimated for unnecessary fixed track light-rail.

$7.5 Billion construction cost estimates from 2022 for the I-5 Bridge with light rail could balloon 20% to $9 Billion when cost increases are revealed in 2025.  Funding IBR includes state & federal dollars, plus tolling vehicles on I-5, and likely I-205 too. High toll costs in northern WA state, where up to 50-68% of tolls paid has gone to pay for the tolling system in some areas are concerning. seeNoTolls.com .

Bridge tolls on SR 520 between Seattle and the east side increased in 2023, and will increase again by 10% on August 15, 2024, to $5.15 one way for 2-axle vehicle between 7-10 AM and 3-7pm weekdays, pay by plate via tolling photos, roundtrip $10.30. The multi-axle toll rates show a 6 axle vehicle rate of $14.95 one way  from 7-10 AM weekdays, pay by plate. Additional road tolls are charged in northern WA state, and are under discussion to expand in WA and OR also.

Candidates that oppose light-rail and tolls include Joe Kent (3rd Congressional District), Leslie Lewallen (3rd Congressional District), John Ley (18th Legislative District), Brad Benton (18th Legislative District), Hannah Joy (17th Legislative District), Lucia Worthington (49th Legislative District) and County Council candidates Peter Cutile and Chuck Keplar.

John Ley informs, “TOLLING — a hugely regressive tax on hardworking low & middle income families. TOLLS on the I-5 bridge will cause huge traffic diversion to I-205, adding to its traffic congestion… The 3-mile light rail extension consumes over 1/4 of the project cost, at $2 billion. TriMet is demanding we pay for half of the “local contribution” to buy 19 light rail train cars. Ridiculous. TriMet is demanding new taxes from both Oregon and Washington residents, to pay for operations and maintenance costs. Oregon never contributed to the O&M costs of C-Tran’s Express bus service into Portland, for the past 3 decades.” 

Ley has informed the public about transportation issues for many years. See articles:

Over half Interstate Bridge proposal allocated to transit, pedestrians and bicyclists, 

RTC says ‘new normal’ for low transit ridership and high private vehicle use, 

National and local transit ridership down significantly feds report

Brad Benton (18th Legislative District) states that he will work to “build a third bridge while opposing tolls and light rail.”

Joe Kent states, “We pay more than enough in taxes already, and I will fight to ensure there are no tolls on the bridge project. Like in Seattle and Portland, light rail cars will become mobile drug dens that spread Portland’s problems further into our district. I oppose any light rail project.”

Leslie Lewallen (3rd Congressional District) voted to send the Modified-LPA Resolution back to staff to remove all reference of light rail and also voted  against the modified LPA with light rail and bridge tolls as a member of the Regional Transportation Council (July 14, 2022 minutes). County Councilors Medvigy and Bowerman voted the same. Lewallen states that she will “Fight against adding toll roads because those inflated costs only hurt our workers.” more information at her website under Issues, News & Press.

Hannah Joy (17^th) points out, “bringing light rail into Clark County would be a highway for drug trafficking.”

Peter Cutile for Clark County Council District 4 states, “I will prioritize adding capacity to shorten commutes and oppose tolls and light rail projects that residents reject.”  “What’s being presented now focuses too much on pedestrian and light rail, which isn’t what our community is asking for.”

Chuck Keplar for Clark County Council District 3 notes, “We need to take action, or tolls will be in our future.  That would be devastating for my district and the County.  We must work together for more sensible and affordable transportation solutions.”

The Clark County Council has taken positions on various aspects of the I-5 IBR Program including opposition to light rail and tolls on the I-5 bridge and tolls on the I-5 and I-205 Corridors.

This site serves as a repository of the resolutions passed by county council as well as background information.

Candidates who promote light rail and tolls include Marie Perez (3^rd), Philip Johnson(18^th) per July 12, 2022 CTRAN board vote, Adrian Cortes (18th Legislative District),  voted FOR light rail and bridge tolls in the modified LPA on the proposed IBR I-5 bridge at the RTC Board Meeting  (July 14, 2022 minutes). Cleveland (49^th), Wylie (49^th), and Stonier(49^th) who have pushed both as legislators for years. Perez mistakenly refers to the “100-year-old I-5 bridge” at her campaign websites.  There are two I-5 Bridges today, the northbound bridge built in 1917, and southbound bridge built in 1958. Although she claims that $600 million in federal funding could “avoid the need for tolls”, federal taxpayer dollars for IBR have not changed the IBR scheme to add light rail and tolls.

We need fiscally responsible elected officials who will not waste funds and push tolls for a bloated bridge project that includes expensive fixed light rail when better and less costly options for transit buses and vans that share the road and are flexible in vehicle size, number, and route are available. See Opinion: There are plenty of ways to reduce the cost of the I-5 Bridge replacement project

Margaret Tweet
Camas