The decision comes on the heels of the Camas City Council’s unanimous passage of a similar resolution in February, which was authored by Councilor Leslie Lewallen

BATTLE GROUND – Monday (March 3) night, the Battle Ground City Council voted 4-3 to pass a resolution opposing the inclusion of light rail in the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) project, marking another major stand by Southwest Washington communities against the costly and ineffective transit proposal.

This decision comes on the heels of the Camas City Council’s unanimous passage of a similar resolution in February, which was authored by Councilor Leslie Lewallen. The growing opposition underscores the region’s concerns about the light rail portion of the project’s financial burden, lack of congestion relief, and the potential for Portland’s public safety issues to spill into Southwest Washington.

“I’m thrilled to see Battle Ground join the fight against wasteful spending on light rail,” said Lewallen. “This should be a wake-up call for every municipality in Southwest Washington. Our communities deserve real transportation solutions — not billions wasted on a failing system. I encourage other local governments to take a stand and ensure our voices are heard.”

The I-5 Bridge replacement project has already spent $400 million in taxpayer dollars, with light rail being one of its most controversial components. The current proposal includes just 1.9 miles of light rail extending into Washington at a staggering cost of $2 billion, plus nearly $20 million in projected annual operations and maintenance costs.

With two cities now formally opposing light rail, the movement to remove it from the IBR project is gaining momentum. Local leaders and residents across the region are calling for practical, fiscally responsible transit solutions that better serve Southwest Washington’s commuters.