This article was written by North Portland resident and member of the Smarter Bridge coalition, Matthew Denton. Mr. Denton shares his evaluation of the bicycle and pedestrian facilities that are being proposed as part of the $4.2 billion Columbia River Crossing project. It was first published on SmarterBridge.org and some edits have been […]

The chorus of criticism determined to put a stop to the CRC project is getting louder.
Economist Joe Cortright — an outspoken voice in opposition to the $4.2 billion Columbia River Crossing project — gave a presentation to the Portland Planning Commission on Tuesday and a group with major concerns about the CRC have launched SmarterBridge.org […]

One thing that makes the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project such a headache for policy makers, and for anyone trying to make sense of the debate, is that it involves two places with very different ideas about planning for transportation and population growth.
Those places are Clark County, Washington and the Portland metro area.
Check out the […]

(Photo © J. Maus)

As key decision points approach for the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project, chatter about how we move forward is heating up in Portland. Local media, bike and environmental groups, and Portland’s City Council are beginning to make their voices heard about the estimated $4.2 billion project.
On Monday of this week, Portland […]

UPDATE, 3/3: The Columbia River Crossing project staff have issued a memo refuting Cortright’s claims. Download that memo here (300 KB, PDF).

Economist Joe Cortright(BikePortland file photo)

Economist Joe Cortright, who reported last June that Portland’s “green policies” add $2.6 billion into the local economy, has once again set his sights on debunking the Columbia […]

“My view of this bridge is that we’ve got to move freight…isn’t it conceivable they [bikes and peds] would ride across the bridge on whatever kind of transit option is offered, rather than building separate accommodation that just drives the cost of this already unbelievably expensive structure up?”–Sen. Betsy Johnson

On Tuesday of this week, Oregon […]

Whether you’re for or against the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) team’s efforts to build a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River, it’s a good idea to stay informed on what they’re thinking about for the bike and pedestrian facilities.
On that note, I shared a photo last week taken by a member of the CRC’s […]

This bridge in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) is an example of what could be in store for a new I-5 bridge. (More photos below. Photos by Todd Boulanger)

Todd Boulanger is a Senior Transportation Planner with the City of Vancouver (WA). But that’s just his day job. He’s known in the bike scene […]

The Coalition for a Livable Future is a Portland-based non-profit that works with over 90 separate organizations to “promote healthy and sustainable communities”.
In the recent issue of their Connections Journal newsletter, CLF Policy Director Mara Gross pens a cautionary article about the impacts on greenhouse gas emissions inherent in the current plans for a new […]

After I published a story last week that shared draft concept drawings of what the new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River might look like, I received an email from someone on the Columbia River Crossing project staff.
He wanted to point out two concept drawings that I did not share and he forwarded […]

Bike. Bridge. Truck(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

The Columbian newspaper reported on Saturday that Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire got an up-close and personal look at current bike access conditions on the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River.
Here’s a snip from the article:
“Gregoire and Kulongoski, wearing safety hats and vests, started their meeting […]

For all you highway lovers out there…here are some draft concepts of what the future I-5 crossing at the Columbia River might look like according to the folks with the Columbia River Crossing project:

For more information on the Columbia River Crossing project, check out my previous articles or stop by the next public meeting.

CRC Task […]

Our old friend Mary Peters, the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary who said bicycle paths aren’t transportation infrastructure, earned the rebuke of the League of American Bicyclists, than tried to make good with a verbose explanation, recently paid our region a visit.

She was here to trump the urgency of rebuilding the I-5 bridge over the […]

I’ve been meaning to post an update about how bicycles are fairing in the the Columbia River Crossing Project.

A cyclist on the I-5 Bridge.(File photo)

A 25 member Bike/Ped Advisory Committee has been meeting regularly for the past few months. You can learn more about who’s on the committee and read their meeting notes […]

[Cyclists navigate the I-5 Bridge]

The Columbia River Crossing Project is rounding up bicycle and pedestrian advocates to sit on an advisory committee.
Here’s the email invite:
“You have been identified as a potential member of the Columbia River Crossing project’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee.
The committee will meet every four to six weeks over the […]

[Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder presents his resolution calling for more alternatives to be considered in the Columbia River Crossing process.]

The Columbia River Crossing Task Force has just voted 26-7 in favor of a resolution created by Rex Burkholder, and passed by Metro Council, asking that they include another alternative besides their $6 billion dollar […]

A key vote will be made tomorrow by the Columbia River Crossing Task Force. The 39-member panel will vote on how to move forward into the next phase of the project.

Chris Smith of PortlandTransport.com has covered this issue (with skepticism) very closely, I’ve expressed my grave concerns and have urged a shift in thinking […]