Camas resident Douglas Tweet encourages voters to support leaders like Leslie Lewallen, Tim Hein, and Michelle Belkot
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
We need clear-thinking, fiscally responsible leadership in local government. Leslie Lewallen is running for re-election to the Camas City Council, and has repeatedly demonstrated such qualities. One example is Councilor Lewallen and Councilor Tim Hein informing the council about costly light rail on the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project (IBR). A resolution to oppose light rail in favor of affordable transit such as buses was unanimously passed by the Camas City Council, the first such resolution passed in SW Washington.
Washougal, Battle Ground, LaCenter, and County Councilor Michelle Belkot likewise objected to the excessive costs of light rail. As a result, County Councilor Belkot-District 2, who represents an urban county area, was removed from her seat on the C-TRAN board. She was replaced with County Councilor Fuentes, District-3, which is mostly in Vancouver, an outspoken proponent of expensive light rail.
Since 2010 I have been following the bloated I-5 Bridge light rail plans, and offer some updated information on bus transit ridership and costs.
Very Low Ridership:
In March I wrote an analysis of bus ridership data obtained from C-TRAN. Ridership numbers across the I-5 bridge are less now than they were 20 years ago. As of fall 2024, there were approximately 1500 boardings using transit to cross the I-5 bridge on a weekday. Yet, a year ago IBR projected that by 2045 around 29,000 people would take transit (both bus and light rail) daily across the bridge, an increase of 19 times. Meanwhile, at a C-TRAN board meeting in June it was reported that the model IBR was using to forecast future ridership was not acceptable to the Federal Transit Agency, and is known to give inflated ridership predictions. IBR leadership expects the numbers will go down using the approved model, but no IBR ridership updates have been shared with the public yet.
High Costs:
We are also still waiting for cost updates for the total I-5 Bridge project. In 2022/23 projections were about $2 billion for the light rail component alone, and about $7 billion total. IBR is still working on updates to costs, but they are not expected until later in 2025 or early 2026.
While we wait for the new IBR cost projections, we can turn to other bridge and light rail projects and see how they have fared:
Abernethy Bridge on I-205: If you have recently taken I-205 across the Willamette River near Oregon City, you have encountered this project. Its costs have tripled and are expected to continue to rise, partly due to engineering issues that could plague the IBR project as well.
West Seattle Light Rail Extension: This proposed extension of Seattle’s Sound Transit light rail system has tripled in cost from initial estimates. It has a number of features in common with the IBR project: “The proposed alignment runs through built-up areas, most of the line needs to be elevated or in tunnels, a tall bridge over the Duwamish River will be needed, and considerable right-of-way will need to be purchased from businesses and homeowners.” What do the citizens of West Seattle get for their investment? “… the light rail extension would produce less than a one percent increase in total transit ridership for an investment of over $6 billion. That is an exceedingly poor return on such a massive investment.” According to Sound Transit staff in a 2024 meeting, costs could soar to $7.1 billion for the light rail extension.
Sound Transit in Seattle: $35 Billion cost overruns for light rail place enormous burdens on current and future taxpayers and businesses.
Minneapolis: “Some areas are cancelling rail altogether because of the extreme financial burden of not just building rail, but operating it. Near Minneapolis, Minn., officials have cancelled the Northstar Commuter Rail Line because of a staggering $116 subsidy per ticket. Officials plan to replace rail with bus service that will cost 86 percent less and serve more people.”
Vote for fiscally responsible leadership. Support leaders like Leslie Lewallen, Tim Hein, and Michelle Belkot.
Douglas Tweet
Camas
Also read:
- POLL: With updated estimates reaching as high as $17.7 billion, what should happen to the I-5 Bridge replacement project?
A new poll asks readers how the I-5 Bridge replacement project should proceed amid higher cost estimates and questions about transparency within the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. - Letter: ‘Walz’s tough talk is a blatant attempt to deflect his complicity in the massive fraud in his state’
Camas resident Anna Miller argues that a governor has no legal authority to deploy the National Guard to interfere with federal law enforcement and criticizes Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s public statements. - Opinion: Not a Good choice
Lars Larson argues that personal choices led to a deadly confrontation with law enforcement during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. - Opinion: ‘The IBR team has been lying to us and thanks to a veteran Oregon journalist, we have the smoking gun’
Ken Vance argues newly obtained documents show Interstate Bridge Replacement staff withheld updated cost estimates from lawmakers and the public. - Opinion: State CO2 report shows 86% of Washington’s claimed climate benefits are probably fake
Todd Myers argues a state climate report significantly overstates emissions reductions and raises concerns about data accuracy and accountability in Washington’s climate spending.
