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Locally Preferred Alternative

The Columbia River Crossing project's six local partner agencies have selected a replacement I-5 bridge with light rail to Clark College as the project's Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA).

Local partners–Portland City Council, Vancouver City Council, TriMet Board, C-TRAN Board, Metro Council, RTC Board–considered public comment, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and a recommendation from the CRC Task Force when voting on the LPA.

The selection of one alternative for further analysis represents regional consensus on a comprehensive solution for the problems on I-5 between Vancouver and Portland. CRC will continue working closely with the public and project partners to refine the Locally Preferred Alternative and address additional board and council recommendations.

LPA Description

New bridges will replace the existing Interstate Bridges to carry I-5 traffic, light rail, pedestrians and bicyclists across the Columbia River. The new bridges will not have a bridge lift. They will carry three through-travel lanes and up to three auxiliary lanes for entering and exiting the highway in each direction. Like today, northbound and southbound traffic would be on separate bridges.

The existing bridges would be removed once the new bridges open to traffic.

Light rail would extend from the Expo Center MAX Station in Portland to a station and park and ride at Clark College in Vancouver. Pedestrians and bicyclists would travel along a wider and safer path than exists today. Light rail and the pedestrian and bicycle path could be on a third bridge or located beneath the decks of the new highway bridges.

Light rail would fit within the future express and local bus systems to expand access between Vancouver and Portland. Express buses would continue to serve long distance commuter markets by providing direct access between Clark County and downtown Portland during peak commute hours. Local bus service in Vancouver would connect to light rail and continue to serve Vancouver.

Interchanges within the five-mile project area would be improved for safety and freight mobility through significant rebuilding, including moving or improving highway connections, adding auxiliary lanes and lengthening on-and off-ramps. The following interchanges would be improved: Victory Boulevard, Marine Drive, Hayden Island/Jantzen Beach, SR 14/City Center, Fourth Plain, Mill Plain and SR 500.

The current cost estimate is $3.1 - $4.2 billion in year of expenditure dollars. (Year of expenditure assumes that construction would take place between 2010 and 2017).

Project Benefits

• No bridge lifts
• Less congestion
• Improved freight mobility
• Fewer collisions
• More travel choices and community connections
• Wider and safer path for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Stormwater treatment

What's Next?

Before a final design can be developed, key decisions will be made on project elements, including:

• Number of auxiliary lanes and design of the I-5 bridge
• Highway and interchange design
• Pedestrian and bicycle pathway location and design
• High capacity transit alignment on Hayden Island and Vancouver
• Travel demand management strategies
• Sustainability plan
• Mitigation plan
• Financing and tolling plan

Ongoing public input on these elements will be critical to the project development process. Additional analysis of the environmental and community effects of the project will be included in a Final EIS, expected in late 2009.