Lars Larson shares his opinion of the latest developments in the proposed Interstate 5 Bridge replacement project
Lars Larson
The Northwest Nonsense
Trimet and ODOT need to accept that their two billion dollar boondoggle light rail on the I-5 bridge is a dead train rolling.
Consider that the city of Camas, a member of C-TRAN, just voted unanimously to oppose any light rail on the bridge as too expensive and not worth the cash.
TriMet is broke and rapidly burning down its billion dollar cash reserves.
ODOT faces a one-third of a billion dollar shortfall just this year.
And Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek just made all transportation projects 10 to 20 percent more expensive, by her own estimate, by insisting on unionized labor.
Federal transportation has only put up one of the two billion for the project.
My bet is Donald Trump won’t put up a single dime for this mess.
As it stands, the plan to connect 1.9 miles of light rail from Oregon to Washington ranks as the single most expensive train project anywhere on Earth at more than one billion bucks a mile
Today, legislator John Ley introduced a bill that would ban any funding from Washington state to an out of state transit agency, in this case, TriMet.
You see, TriMet is drowning in costs and they’re looking for Washington taxpayers to throw them a life ring.
I say let ‘em sink, kill the billion dollar choo choo, and build a new bridge that actually serves the needs of citizens.
Listen to The Lars Larson Show weekdays noon-3 p.m. (Northwest show) and 3-6 p.m. (national show). He is a Vancouver resident.
Also read:
- 6-cent gas tax hike central to new transportation deal in WA Legislature
A proposed 6-cent gas tax hike is central to a transportation funding deal under negotiation in the Washington Legislature, aimed at raising $3.2 billion over six years. - Letter: C-TRAN Board improper meeting conductCamas resident Rick Vermeers criticizes the C-TRAN Board for misusing parliamentary procedure during a controversial vote on light rail.
- Opinion: TriMet’s ‘fiscal cliff’ a caution for Clark County taxpayersRep. John Ley warns that Portland’s financially troubled TriMet transit system could pose major risks to Clark County taxpayers as the I-5 Bridge replacement moves forward.
- Travel Advisory: Expect daytime delays on northbound I-5 near Woodland for guardrail repairs, April 18WSDOT will close the left lane of northbound I-5 near Woodland on Friday, April 18, to repair guardrail and improve driver safety.
- Belkot speaks before C-TRAN board; directors pause vote on light rail funding language until JulyMichelle Belkot spoke at Tuesday’s C-TRAN board meeting, calling her removal from the board unlawful; directors postponed a vote on light rail funding language until July amid legal challenges.
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