IBR says (again) that light rail to Library Square is not part of first phase of construction

IBR officials say physical and financial limits make Library Square light rail impossible in Phase 1. Photo by Andi Schwartz

🎧 IBR: Light Rail to Library Square Not in Phase 1

The city, the county, and more can keep asking that the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program change its plans and brings light rail to Library Square in the first phase of construction, but IBR officials keep saying it is not possible under current funding

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

They keep asking, but the answer remains the same when it comes to extending light rail over the new bridge and all the way to Library Square during the first phase of construction for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.

No.

On Thursday, officials with the IBR once again pointed out that their long-term mission is to extend light rail to Library Square at Evergreen Boulevard in Vancouver, but it is not part of the first phase of construction. Currently, there is no available funding beyond the first phase of the project.

In fact, IBR officials have told city leaders, county councilors, as well as members of C-TRAN and the Southwest Washington Regional Transit Council that extending light rail beyond the bridge at the waterfront is not and cannot be part of the first phase of construction.

That did not stop the city, the county, C-TRAN, and RTC from moving forward with resolutions requesting that the IBR change its plans.

The latest resolution is being worked on right now by the Clark County Council, the same week that IBR received federal approval to begin finding a contractor and securing permits to begin construction of the first phase of the project.

That led Clark County Today to ask the IBR: Can these plans even be changed at this point?

The short answer is no.

The long answer is the IBR has always planned to complete the project in phases, and light rail to Library Square is in the long-term plans, beyond Phase 1.

Furthermore, the IBR briefed local officials on more than one occasion on this very issue.

“In addition to the financial constraints of extending to Evergreen (Blvd.) right from the beginning, there are physical restraints,” Steve Witter, deputy assistant program manager of IBR, told the C-TRAN board of directors in April.

“Oftentimes we think about light rail being next to the highway, but as it gets to Evergreen, it is on top of the highway,” Witter pointed out. “The highway scope has been reduced. Highway and transit are married at that point. When we’re able to extend the highway improvements, we (will be) able to extend light rail improvements.”

This message, or ones similar, have been told to all interested parties, yet city council, county council, and more keep requesting for a change in Phase 1 of the project. Almost as if, if they keep asking, the answer might change.

On Thursday, the IBR responded:

“The IBR Program does not currently have funding available to build out the light rail extension as part of the first funded phase of construction,” the release said.

“The first step toward building light rail is to replace the Interstate Bridge, which will be built to accommodate future light rail as additional funding is available,” the release continued.

The first funded phase (estimated to cost $5.7 billion) includes a single-level, fixed-span bridge with three through lanes, one auxiliary lane, a shared-use path, and space for future light rail construction. It also contains connection of the replacement bridge to Interstate 5, Hayden Island in Oregon, and Washington State Route 14, as well as the removal of the existing bridge.

“Both states remain committed to constructing the full five-mile corridor over time,” IBR said in its release.

Among the future phases in that corridor include light rail construction to Library Square.

Even with this proposed first phase, officials are seeking more money just for the light rail element to reach the Vancouver Waterfront.

“The Program is continuing to seek a $1 billion grant award from the Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grant to support the construction of light rail from North Portland to the Waterfront in Vancouver as part of future construction,” the IBR release said. “The Program currently anticipates construction of the light rail extension to reach Waterfront Station first, with a subsequent extension to Evergreen later as additional funding is identified.”