Note: I'm currently on a family trip and not working normal hours. Email and message responses will be delayed and story and posting volumes here and on our social media accounts will not be at their usual levels until I return to Portland September 4th. Thanks for your patience and understanding. - Jonathan Maus, BikePortland Publisher and Editor
The Columbia River Crossing project seeks to build a new bridge over the Columbia river between Oregon and Washington at Interstate 5.
For more information, read my coverage of this topic in the articles below.
[For links to more local media coverage of this issue, click here.]
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 … Read more
“… 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 … Read more
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) … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
[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 … Read more
(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 … Read more
[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, … Read more
[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 Masters degree in … Read more
Comment of the Week: Gratitude for N/NE Broadway project