A Quick Update
Vote Before Tolls Committee has intentionally been quiet these past few months as the November election drowned out our messaging. But that is the past and now it’s time to ramp up our voice, presence, and impact.
First, let’s be clear … tolling is still coming to Portland and Oregon roads and highways. Gov. Kotek paused, but did not stop tolling. Tolling is a major multi-billion dollar topic at this winter’s Oregon Legislative session.
Second, IP-31 needs your support to get on the ’26 ballot. We did not have enough signature momentum to make this year’s ballot, but we have just over 18 months to get on the ’26 ballot. IP-31’s Right to Vote assures we have a seat at the table to bring the public’s perspective and common sense to all tolling planning & projects. Everyone who signed before August 2024 needs to sign again. https://VoteBeforeToll.org/initiative
$9B I-5 Bridge Includes $4.5B in Tolls… No Future Proofing in the Plan … SEIS Comment Period Closes at Midnight
Informed by this article by Lars Larson…
https://oregoncatalyst.com/81935-lars-larson-tolling-fix.html
- ODOT, WADOT, and Governor Kotek are moving forward with plans for a new, but no bigger, Interstate Bridge over the Columbia river.
- Just 11 months ago the IBR project director Greg Johnson told us the bridge would cost $6B. Today’s estimate is $9B and rising. While we admit construction costs are up – they are not up 50% in just ONE year!
- Less than HALF that cost is already lined up. Oregon, Washington, and the Federal government have already chipped in.
- The answer … tolls on the backs and from the wallets of those who cross the bridge. The toll share was $1.5B last year, now tolling’s share is up 300% to $4.5B currently and tolls will continue to be the “subtract answer” plugging the funding gap as project costs continue to rise.
- Tolls are currently estimated to peak at MORE than $9 dollars a day or more than $2,000 a year for a daily commuter with a few more inches of lane width but no more no more vehicle capacity.
- These tolls will not sunset (stop) when construction costs are paid off – they will go on forever.
- The replacement bridge is planned to have 3 lanes north and south, the same as it did when the second span was opened 66 years ago in 1958.
- Does any politician think traffic will decline or the PNW region will not grow over the next 66 years?
- Adding one more lane each direction now is an incremental cost and will somewhat future proof the bridge.
- Light rail, at $1 billion a mile, is the most expensive light rail project on earth! —> Our leaders want us to pay $2B for this expansion and then to subsidize the fares of the travelers!
- The general public in SW Washington and those of us in Oregon don’t want this expansion … and we can’t afford it.
- METRO already owns the Expo Center – I am sure we can triple the parking lot size there and add C-Tran busses to accommodate the few hundred riders who would use the Vancouver Max extension for less than a $1M per year … 1/200 of the cost of extended light rail!
- Bridge tolls are planned start before the bridge construction. And it’s not clear that the Glenn Jackson I-205 bridge will be tolled. Guess where the I-5 bridge traffic will go once tolls start?
- ODOT still has plans to toll I-5, I-205, Hwy 26, and Hwy 217 for “congestion relief”. More tolls will surely follow.
So Are We Opposed to an Earthquake Resistant and Traffic-Efficient New Bridge?
No, we absolutely agree that replacement bridge is necessary and we know we need to pay for it. But we don’t want the current politician’s boondoggle that costs more than we can afford. Common sense needs to prevail. The public demands a seat at the table to be involved in re-focusing reigning in this project. It’s our bridge, our cash, and our table!
Since Vote Before Tolls Committee was founded in 2020 we have never been asked by planners to share and discuss our thoughts to help optimize any tolling project. We’ve attended dozens of “public meetings’ where ODOT and state leaders listened and NEVER responded or asked us to engage on behalf of the public we represent. But to give them credit, the do count and take credit for our attendance as a “public contact”.
IP-31 Covers ALL Oregon Roads, Bridges and Highways
The initiative give citizens the right to vote on all new tolls … forcing accountability by ODOT, PBOT, Ti-MET, and our state legislators.
IP-31 is retroactive to 2018 and even covers bicyclists who seem to think they will never have to start paying for their infrastructure.
Oregon legislative leadership shut down all discussions about tolling during last year’s session and are on a path to do the same in 2025. IP-31 will call them to accountability for their many multi-billion dollar tolling spending sprees.
IBR ODOT SEIS Comment Period Closes at Midnight Tonight ##
ODOT Director Chris Strickler is asking the public to comment on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to improve the IBR plan. The deadline is midnight tonight. We know it’s short notice so we suggest you grab a thought or two from the list above. Or simply forward this email with a prefix saying you agree with it as follows:
Send your comments today by midnight …
Email to: [email protected]
with “Draft SEIS public comment” in the subject line
or post your comments to https://InterstateBridge.org/DraftSEIS