Project History

2001-2002:

I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership

In 2001, the governors of Oregon and Washington formed a bi-state partnership to study transportation problems and possible solutions for the I-5 corridor. The Partnership recommended fixing three bottlenecks in its 2002 Strategic Plan:

I-5 at Salmon Creek in Clark County (completed in 2006)
I-5 at Delta Park in Portland (construction to begin in 2008)
I-5 at the Columbia River (this project)

Spring 2005:

CRC Project Begins

The 39-member CRC Task Force was formed in early 2005 to advise the CRC project on key decisions. The CRC Task Force consists of leaders from a broad cross section of Oregon and Washington communities, including public agencies, businesses, civic organizations, neighborhoods, freight, commuter and environmental groups.

Fall 2005:

Defining the Problems and Potential Solutions

Using data developed by the I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership, CRC worked with the public, tribal governments and partner agencies to define the primary problems in the project area: congestion, dangerous travel conditions, and travel demand that exceeds capacity. Once the problems were identified, 23 river crossing and 14 transit ideas were proposed as potential solutions, and evaluation criteria were developed.

Spring 2006:

Narrowing the Ideas

Continuing discussions with the Task Force and community, the CRC project team studied the river crossing and transit ideas, which included a tunnel under the Columbia River, a third highway crossing, and commuter rail. As a result of this discussion and analysis, the ideas were further narrowed to a set of four river crossing options and five public transit options.

Spring – Summer 2006:

Testing the Preliminary Alternatives

CRC packaged the most promising bridge and transit options into a dozen preliminary alternatives. Each alternative included several transportation components: bridge, highway, transit, freight, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and strategies to reduce travel demand. These preliminary alternatives were tested against the evaluation criteria. The results highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the components.

Fall 2006 – Spring 2007:

Identifying Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) Alternatives

In collaboration with partner agencies, the CRC project team identified the best performing bridge and transit options and recommended these for further evaluation in the EIS process. CRC held an extensive public discussion to gather comments on the proposal in early 2007. With guidance from the CRC Task Force and the public, five alternatives were recommended for further analysis in the Draft EIS.

Spring 2007 – Spring 2008:

Analyzing the Five Alternatives

The CRC project analyzed each alternative to determine how well it relieves congestion and improves safety and mobility on I-5. On May 2, 2008, the project released its Draft EIS which describes the effects of each alternative on community, natural and historic resources. A 60-day public comment period ended July 1, 2008.

The five alternatives are:

1. No build (for comparison purposes)
2. Replacement bridge with bus rapid transit
3. Replacement bridge with light rail
4. Supplemental bridge with bus rapid transit
5. Supplemental bridge with light rail

Summer 2008:

Selecting the Locally Preferred Alternative

Project sponsors will consider the Draft EIS, public comment and the recommendation of the Task Force when selecting one of the five alternatives as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). Selection of the LPA is expected by August 2008.