Artists rendering of bike/ped facility underneath in a two-bridge, “stacked” configuration.(Graphics: CRC)

Riders queue up at a stop lightduring the Anti-CRC ride Saturday.- Slideshow below/More photos -(Photos © J. Maus)

Over 80 people met on Saturday to ride in protest against the Columbia River Crossing project. The event was put together by Rising Tide Cascadia to coincide with Pedalpalooza and raise awareness of the negative impacts of [...]

Detail of ride flyer.

Cascadia Rising Tide — a grassroots network of activists that, “take direct action to confront the roots causes of climate change and promote local, community-based solutions to the climate crisis” — will lead a ride next week exploring areas of North Portland that will be impacted by the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) [...]

Brother, can you spare $4 billion?(Photos © J. Maus)

If you had $4 billion to spend on transportation, what would you do?
Come join our very own Jonathan Maus at tomorrow night (Thursday, May 7) at 7:00pm at Roots Organic Brewery at 1520 SE 7th Ave for a game show-style debate over what kinds of projects we [...]

Front page of The Columbian newspaper today.

U.S. Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA) is featured in a front page story in today’s edition of The Columbian newspaper expressing his concerns about the “fiscal reality” of the new I-5 bridge (the story is only available in their print edition).
Echoing a sentiment shared by economist Joe Cortright at Sunday’s [...]

If you missed Sunday’s CRC rally in Waterfront Park, Dan Kaufman from CrankMyChain! CycleTV has put together a video with 7+ minutes of footage (watch it below).

View of the crowd from atop the Morrison Bridge.-Slideshow below-(Photos © J. Maus)

A large and energetic crowd showed up for the CRC Opposition and Alternatives Rally held in Waterfront Park today.
They were energized by a long list of speakers ranging from Portland City Councilor Amanda Fritz to Republican Washington State Senator Don Benton. [...]

Organizers of the CRC Opposition and Alternatives Rally have just released their third spoof “Bridge Shopping Network” video. But something has gone awry — hosts Joe and Kristen’s sales pitch is interrupted by anti-CRC hackers!
From the release notes:

Current routes to the rally

Planning to attend Sunday’s Build Less Bridge CRC Opposition and Alternatives Rally?
A new online map can help you meet up with other folks riding from your part of town, or organize a feeder ride of your own.
The event is on Sunday, April 5th at noon in Waterfront Park under the [...]

An anti-12 lane CRC sign(Photo © J. Maus)

An editorial in this morning’s Oregonian criticizes Bicycle Transportation Alliance leaders for their recently stated opposition of the plan to build a new, 12-lane highway bridge over the Columbia River, and for encouraging their members to attend a rally in opposition to the plan.
Claiming that the BTA seeks [...]

Below is the full text of the BTA’s press release in opposition to the CRC project:
BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE FORMALIZES OPPOSITION TO COLUMBIA RIVER CROSSING
Monday, March 22, 2009 – The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) announced today our opposition to the massive freeway expansion, known as the Columbia River Crossing, that is being planned between Portland [...]

“Expanding the freeway and constructing six new massive interchanges will do tremendous damage to the bike friendliness of communities around the project.”– From a press release issued today by the BTA

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) issued a statement today in opposition to the Columbia River Crossing project. The statement is by far the BTA’s [...]

“The CRC project will degrade everything we’ve collectively invested decades creating. There are cheaper, more environmentally sound ways to do this. We aim to make the public aware of them.”– Joe Kurmaskie

As promised, a “grassroots coalition of Portlanders and Vancouverites” has launched their first of several satirical videos mocking the current plans for a 12-lane [...]

Here’s the latest from the grassroots group who are mounting a campaign against the 12-lane CRC bridge plans:
Bill Bradbury To Speak At CRC Opposition And Alternatives Rally
Citizen’s Coalition Schedules Rally for Noon, Sunday, April 5th Waterfront Park, Releases Satirical Video
A grassroots coalition of Portlanders and Vancouverites opposed to the current scope and direction of the [...]

This is a screen shot of an upcoming video that will be released by a coalition of citizens who oppose the current direction of the CRC project.

As expected, the Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council made their recommendation today that the new I-5 bridge be built with 12 total lanes.
Here’s more from the Portland Business Journal:
“The Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council…wants six lanes in each direction for the replacement bridge, which would also offer bicycle and pedestrian lanes [...]

Mayor Adams (L) and Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard before a CRC meeting in February 2007.(Photo © J. Maus)

On Friday, the Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council will meet to solidify the lane configuration of the new I-5 bridge. According to a press release sent out by the CRC project, the meeting will result in [...]

Joe Kurmaskie, seen here at the “We are All Traffic” rally held in November 2007 after two bike fatalities.(Photo © J. Maus)

Mayor Sam Adams’ support of a proposal that would authorize the construction of a new I-5 bridge that could “be built to accomodate up to 12 lanes” has sparked a new level of opposition [...]

“… it’s less about the number of lanes, per se, and more about the impact on the community.”– Scott Bricker, executive director of the BTA

This week’s decision by City Council to authorize Mayor Adams to vote in favor of a 12-lane Columbia River Crossing bridge has sparked outrage among many Portlanders. Several comments here [...]

Commissioner Fritz voiced many concerns before voting “no” on the proposal last night.(Image: City of Portland)

At their meeting last night, Portland’s City Council gave Mayor Sam Adams authorization to vote in favor of a 12-lane Columbia River Crossing (CRC) bridge.
But, according to Adams’ office, the vote does not mean the Mayor (and council) have signed [...]

I recently came across this image again — it’s the map that might have sealed our fate, developed by Portland city planners in 1966 in response to freeway guru Robert Moses’ vision for the city.

Robert Moses’ freeway plan for the City of Portland

Moses was known for saying “Cities are for traffic,” and he dedicated his [...]

Metro Council President David Bragdon.(Photo © J. Maus)

Thursday at Metro, councilors are sure to get an earful when they host a public hearing on the contentious Columbia River Crossing project. The topic will be Resolution No. 09-4023, which Metro describes as:
“For the Purpose of Expressing a Sense of The Council on the Number of [...]

Michelle Poyourow of the BTA.(Photos © J. Maus)

Advocate Michelle Poyourow of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) was one of over 70 people that testified in front of City Council at last week’s public hearing on the Columbia River Crossing project (CRC).
After the hearing, several people mentioned her testimony to me and I also noticed [...]

[Editor's note: This guest editorial was written by first-time BikePortland contributor Spencer Boomhower. Spencer testified in front of City Council during a hearing on the Columbia River Crossing held last Thursday.]

Spencer Boomhower

I’m sitting at a table with a microphone sticking in my face, and a little digital counter telling me how much time I [...]

(Photos © J. Maus)

Last Friday, I had the pleasure to host Rex Burkholder here at BikePortland.org Headquarters. We often cross paths at events and parties, and I work with him as a source on stories now and again, but it’s rare that we get the chance to talk uninterrupted for over an hour.

Transportation activist, streetcar advocate, former City Commissioner candidate and blogger Chris Smith was at an event last night where U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer had some choice words about the Columbia River Crossing project.
Here’s an excerpt from Smith’s report:
Blumenauer said the the Columbia River Crossing was a metaphor for the lack of consensus for a transportation [...]

[Update, 6:30: Council has voted unanimously to support a replacement bridge crossing (with light rail) as the Locally Preferred Alternative. Read the full lowdown at the Mercury blog and read my report from City Hall below.]

Standing room only crowd at City Hall for the vote on the CRC.(Photos © J. Maus)

“We need a replacement. But it must be the right kind of new bridge… Approval today will only move the bridge project proposal from one phase of evaluation to the next.” –Commissioner Sam Adams in today’s Oregonian

Today is an important day for supporters and critics of the Columbia River Crossing project.
Portland City Council, the group [...]

[This article was written by Tony Fuentes. Fuentes is vice-chair of the Concordia Neighborhood Association, an avid outdoorsman, a father of two, and a small business owner. He is frequently called upon by city leaders and was a member of Commissioner Sam Adams' Safe, Sound and Green Stakeholder Committee. Fuentes has a [...]

BTA leader Scott Bricker (shown here at an event last week) has joined other groups in calling on City Council to re-think the CRC project.(Photo © J. Maus)

As expected, the BTA and a coalition of environmental groups have stepped up their oppositional stance to the Columbia River Crossing project.
They have just issued a statement [...]