Comments on: Camas City Councilor Leslie Lewallen visits U.S. Department of Transportation to oppose light rail in I-5 Bridge project

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:13:20 +0000

Maybe Leslie and other politicians should figure a way to keep traffic moving on a regular basis on I-5 and 205 as well as getting law enforcement to deal with the lawless drivers causing so many horrific accidents. It is impossible to get anywhere between Portland and SW Washington e to the in a timely fashion anymore. We need more reliable and efficient public transportation. Being able to take MAX to downtown Portland, Hillsboro or the airport and back would be fantastic. With the growth we’re experiencing, A goal should be to get vehicles off the road.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 05:26:35 +0000

At the June C-TRAN meeting, the IBR leader explained his view that a public vote on light rail was “not a thing”. Yet CTRAN staff made lengthy presentations to cities and the county earlier in 2025 outlining how current state law includes a public vote to raise the CTRAN portion of the sales tax for light rail. It was due to state law that a vote on light rail was held in 2012, when every city in the county, and the county area in the voting boundary soundly REJECTED the CTRAN propposition to extend TRIMET light rail over a proposed new I-5 Bridge. In 2013, county commissioners held an advisory vote on light rail, and again, voters county wide affirmed a public vote should be held before any funds are spent on light rail.
Vancouver Mayor Anne Ogle and County Councilor Sue Marshall have not responded to calls for a public vote on light rail, and seem intent on changing the state law that requires a public vote. Perhaps they realize that voters are highly unlikely to vote to raise taxes for unnecessary light rail, a vastly more expensive transit option than buses and vans. It’s good news that Camas City Councilor Leslie Lewallen and others want to hear from residents, and understand that “a multi-billion-dollar light rail extension that our community does not want and cannot afford is the wrong approach.”

By: please

please — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:03:40 +0000

CCT, who paid for this vacation and photo-op? In the era of virtual meetings it better not have been on taxpayer money. And why all the phots in bright red? Me thinks we will see these same photos in her campaign for Congress. Typical politicians spending taxpayer money to complain about spending taxpayer money to get elected to higher office. Shameful.

By: John Ley

John Ley — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:16:12 +0000

In reply to Susan.

Susan —

Spot on regarding the “third bridge” proposal. Back in 2008, our Regional Transportation Council (RTC) published a “Visioning Study”, which identified needs for when Clark County population reached 1 million people.

The visioning study reported we would need TWO new bridges, one west of I-5, and the other east of I-205. So far, the RTC has refused to begin the planning for either of those bridges. Today we have roughly 525,000 people. We are more than half way to needing BOTH an east and a west bridge to handle cross river traffic.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:52:47 +0000

But to be honest, I’d rather see a third bridge built before the existing, totally safe bridge is screwed around with.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:51:08 +0000

Good job, Leslie! Thanks! Hopefully, the Feds will put a stop to this boondoggle consisting of light rail and the never-ending costs associated with it. We need the bridge, with more lanes to handle the traffic, and throw in a nice 10-foot sidewalk for pedestrians and bikes… and then stop right there, nothing more.