The I-5 bridge across the Columbia River is a major congestion point on the I-5 corridor. Anticipated population growth and commercial development, along with traffic safety issues and earthquake preparedness, are driving a public conversation around how to address these challenges.The Columbia River Crossing Project, a joint project of the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Washington State Department of Transportation, is recommending that $4.2 billion be spent to replace the bridge with additional lanes for automobiles, pedestrians and bicycles.
On June 27, join Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder and economist Joe Cortright, as they examine the viability of this proposal. Where will the money come from? What will be the size of the carbon footprint created by the new bridge and how will it impact the environment? Ultimately, how do we balance the practical demands of a growing region with environmental concerns?
Rex Burkholder was elected in 2004 for a second term to represent District 5 in Multnomah County. Burkholder helped found the Bicycle Transportation Alliance,chairs the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation and serves on other transportation committees. Joe Cortright is an economist with Impresa, a Portland consulting firm specializing in regional economic analysis, innovation and industry clusters. Cortright is also the chief economic analyst for the Oregon Business Plan, a private-sector effort to develop the state economy.