Orchards resident Bryan White says ‘we must support the candidates who will fight to keep light rail out of Clark County and tolls off of our freeways’
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
For the last decade, it was rare to see a single-car MAX train. This summer, I’ve seen them as often as I’ve seen two-car trains.
This is Portland quietly admitting that TriMet’s ridership is too low to be worth running full-capacity trains. With the most recent trains and FX line buses, TriMet locked themselves into vehicles that cost more to run, when they could save money and better serve their paying ridership using vans.
And now they want to send their trains into Clark County?
What’s their actual goal in taking their empty trains across the Columbia? Easy: make Clark County’s citizens pay for their poor planning. It’s the same thing they hope to accomplish in adding tolls to the freeways: stick it to the people in the next state.
Every reason Portland wants to “serve” Clark County is bad. They want to give their criminals free rides out of state and shift hidden taxes to us.
We must support the candidates who will fight to keep light rail out of Clark County and tolls off of our freeways. Please join me, depending on your legislative district, in voting for John Ley, Brad Benton, Lucia Worthington, Chuck Keplar, and Joe Kent when your ballot arrives.
Bryan White
Orchards
Also read:
- Opinion: TriMet Better Red cost allocation revealed
John Ley examines TriMet’s $204 million Better Red project, showing most of the spending wasn’t on vehicles or tracks—raising questions about cost transparency and regional funding. - 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 costsThe 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.
Amen Bryan!
Yes. And even with this knowledge, they want us who live in Vancouver to buy into this boondogle.
At the current time, only 46 percent of the new bridge would be dedicated to cars and trucks. 54 percent would be dedicated to light rail, walkers and bicyclist. Doesn’t make any sense.