The I-5 Bridge replacement proposal fails to address people’s biggest concerns, reducing traffic congestion and saving time
Last Friday, U.S. Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and U.S. Congressman Dan Newhouse invited new U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to come to the Portland-Vancouver metro area to view the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) project and learn about its importance to the region. Washington state Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, who serves the 18th Legislative District, issued the following statement:
“This is nothing more than an overpriced light rail project in search of a bridge. The $2 billion transit component is over one-quarter of the entire cost. The people do not prefer the current ‘locally preferred alternative’ as residents on both sides of the river oppose the project.
The proposal fails to address people’s biggest concerns, reducing traffic congestion and saving time. Portland has the nation’s seventh-worst traffic congestion, and the project administrators admit that morning travel times will double by 2045. The southbound commute from Salmon Creek to the Fremont Bridge will take at least 60 minutes, up from 29 minutes today. That’s unacceptable to the citizens of Southwest Washington.
The U.S. Coast Guard finds the project to be a bridge too low. They want the bridge to have unlimited clearance for marine traffic, which would be offered by either a tunnel or a bascule bridge. However, they will consider one with the current 178 feet of clearance for maritime vessels.
Additionally, the current proposal allocates 54 percent of the bridge surface to transit, bikes, and pedestrians, and only 46 percent to freight haulers and general-purpose traffic. I’m not aware of any interstate freeway in the nation that focuses more on ‘active transportation and transit’ instead of cars and trucks.
Last November, I sent a 20-page letter to outgoing USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg outlining the project’s significant problems. A copy of that letter was hand-delivered to Congresswoman Perez’s office in Vancouver. I have not received a response to the people’s significant concerns.
Today, I sent Secretary Duffy my own letter, signed by some of my colleagues from Southwest Washington—Rep. Ed Orcutt of the 20th District and Rep. Jim Walsh of the 19th District—seeking a meeting to highlight the people’s concerns with the project.
I hope the Secretary will give Washington and Oregon elected officials an opportunity to share their concerns about the current proposal. I believe the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, should scrutinize the project.
I welcome the opportunity to meet with Secretary Duffy and share the significant concerns we and many citizens have about the $7.5 billion project.”
The 2025 legislative session began on Jan. 13 and will last 105 consecutive days.
Information provided by the Washington State House Republicans, houserepublicans.wa.gov
Also read:
- Opinion: Neighbors for a Better Crossing calls for a current seismic study for $7.5 Billion Interstate Bridge project
Neighbors for a Better Crossing is urging a new seismic study before construction proceeds on the $7.5 billion IBR project, raising transparency concerns and proposing an immersed tube tunnel alternative. - Rep. John Ley supports C-TRAN Bus Rapid Transit to save Washington moneyRep. John Ley praised C-TRAN’s new BRT line as a faster, lower-cost alternative to light rail, urging support for transit options that save taxpayers money and improve service.
- C-TRAN, WSU Vancouver celebrates groundbreaking for The Vine on Highway 99C-TRAN and WSU Vancouver broke ground on the Vine’s Highway 99 route, a 9-mile bus rapid transit line connecting the university to downtown Vancouver and the Waterfront, set to open in 2027.
- C-TRAN board again postpones vote on light rail operations and maintenance costs
The C-TRAN board again postponed a vote on language regarding operations and maintenance costs tied to light rail expansion, with pending lawsuits involving Michelle Belkot continuing to impact board actions. - Opinion: ‘The Interstate Bridge project lacks billions in funding from both Oregon and Washington’Lars Larson criticizes Oregon’s funding decisions, highlighting the billions missing from both states for the Interstate Bridge replacement project and calling it a dead-end effort lacking Coast Guard approval.
Not a worth about Mr. Ley pleading guilty on Friday to two charges of attempted voter violations? Knowingly providing false information and candidacy declaration. Come on, Clark County Today! You don’t think those charges against a sitting state representative are newsworthy? How much more favoritism and partisanship can you possibly show?
Clark County voters have REJECTED light rail over a proposed I-5 Bridge replacement, in 2012 and 2013. $2 Billion for an unnecessary MAX light rail extension from Portland of 2-3 miles for a very few bus transit riders across the I-5 bridge is an utter waste. Buses and vans meet the need, and can do so in the future.
The 30’+ of bridge real estate required for light rail North and South would be better invested in a lane of traffic north and south that serve freight, visitors, commercial vehicles, commuters, emergency vehicles, buses and vans etc. Roads are the life-lines for our communities. see Over half Interstate Bridge proposal allocated to transit, pedestrians and bicyclists
Wondering how often you have tried the existing services? Many of us do walk and ride bicycles but unfortunately drivers in Clark County have become extremely hostile and we aren;t in their space.
IBR – The Vancouver mayor, Rep. Perez, Senator Cantwell just do not listen to us. We have voted no to light rail for IBR and they keep on planning and talking about it. The good news to me is that Councilor Belkot and two other councilors do not support light rail. We support a mass transit lane, bus and NO TOLLs. How many times does it take before the Dems listen to We the People? We will be sure to memo Secretary Sean Duffy about our opposition to light rail.
The price has more than doubled since they started kicking this can down the road. With population growth you can’t build your way out of congestion, just look at California. There isn’t room to expand freeways through the area without displacing businesses and housing that would cost just as much. It is insane there aren’t better public transportation options like in other major metro areas and light rail plays a major part. The light rail in Portland is used extensively and often packed. It is doubtful that Duffey or Musk would bring anything positive to the table other than abolish or cut. Hard for a Billionaire to have any idea of what ordinary people have to deal with.