The Columbia River Crossing is a project that is aimed at diluting the congestion on I-5 between Oregon and Washington. The problem is that it won't do the job and we don't have the money.
HB 2800 was passed in Oregon's house and in the senate. Gov. Kitzhaber already said that he will sign in once it reaches his desk.
The problem with this bill is that it requires Oregon to issue approximately 450 million dollars of debt at a high rate. It would also require federal subsidies and a toll. Oh, and another problem, the congestion will not be solved. An estimated 60 seconds of travel will be reduced:
" A 2010 governors’ independent review panel found the massive project will shave exactly 60 seconds off the peak morning commute.http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17566-a_bridge_too_false.html
And here’s why: The Interstate Bridge and nearby interchanges are just one bottleneck. The project does nothing to fix the choke point at the Rose Quarter, five miles south, where I-5 narrows to two lanes."
It should be noted that the above article came from a highly liberal news source. Even fiscal liberals disagree with this bill.
Some reports have estimated that the CRC has already spent over 150 million in planning and research. Our lack of financial responsibility at the infancy of this project can only be a foreshadowing of what will happen when we actually begin construction.
We don't need to borrow more money. Lets get our budget under control and handle this issue a different way.
The article I cited is a little dated. But the issues it brings up have not been resolved.
ReplyDeleteHow do they estimate that the bridge will only save 60 seconds? The government doesn't care about waste. They can just raise taxes or issue debt. Some contractor who makes the bridge will be getting paid a lot to make this bridge who will in turn give some of that money to politician.Plus Oregon can have the federal government help foot the bill.
ReplyDeleteCivil engineers have means of measuring transportation effects.
ReplyDeleteI definitely want our transportation system to have more liquidity. However, this project will not solve anything and will cost a lot. If our government were to pull funds from other departments in order to fund this then I would be inclined to go through with it. We obviously wont do that though.
Yeah, this is a highly contentious issue on the Columbia River. Clark Co. Washington, the beneficiaries of this bridge, doesn't want to pay for it. It's only their tight-fistedness that is holding this boondoggle back. Like you say ToeJamm, there is a real problem commuting over the river in the morning, but also, as the article points out, there is as big a problem at the Rose Quarter, where I-405 splits off from I-5.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the bridge is the liberals in Oregon, in order to increase public employee union membership (the main reason) and because it appears to be the green thing to do, are requiring Light Rail. Which removes lanes for cars and lowers the traffic jam eliminating benefits of the new bridge.
Cardinal rule: whenever there is a choice of things to do the Democrats will choose the option that increases the power of Public Employee Unions, regardless of the overall benefits of the choice. Count on it!
I guess I should add: Light Rail employs massive amounts of govt employees, mostly unionized.
ReplyDelete