CRC: City Council pledges conditional support for new bridge with light rail

Artists rendering of new I-5 bridge.(Graphic: CRC) Portland City Council has added their voice to the list of agencies and organizations that want the replacement bridge and light rail option to receive further study in the $4.2 billion Columbia River Crossing project. Their unanimous support comes in the form of a letter to the Co-Chairs … Read more


On the Eastbank Esplanade with Gil Penalosa

  Rollin’ on the Esplanade.(Photos © J. Maus) Yesterday, after the final day of programs at the Carfree Conference, I took a ride on the riverfront with Gil Penalosa (we were joined by Ian Stude, transportation options coordinator at Portland State University). Penalosa was Bogota, Colombia’s parks commissioner when that city underwent a massive urban … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Business Alliance reports uptick in bike commuting

The Portland Business Alliance has just released their 2007 Downtown Portland Business Census and Survey and the results show a 20% rise in the number of people who commute by bike. The survey — which included businesses, government entities and non-profit organizations — found that 6% of downtown employees got to work by bike (last … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

BTA chief clarifies CRC advocacy strategy

“In my view, the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) debate is less about building a bridge and more about debating a right-sized project that is multi-modal, that won’t bankrupt our transportation funds, and won’t promote sprawl by increasing auto use. In addition, for cyclists, it’s about creating a world-class bicycle and pedestrian facility.” That’s the opening … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Planning Commission to City Council: “We have serious concerns” about CRC project

“We will urge City Council not to write a blank check for a project that doesn’t meet the criteria we believe any new bridge should meet.”–Planning Commission member Catherine Ciarlo The nine-member Portland Planning Commission met last night to draw up their recommendations to Portland City Council on the $4.2 billion Columbia River Crossing project. … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

BTA issues position statement on CRC project

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has just issued a press release stating their latest position on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) of the Columbia River Crossing project. In the statement, the BTA says that “after extensive internal discussions and conversations with supporters and opponents” of the project, they feel that a new bridge is … Read more


Packed crowds at Metro CRC hearing

[NOTE: Read the comments below this article for thoughts and perspectives from readers that attended the hearing.] The Metro Council faces a packed room for an important hearing on the CRC project.(Photos © J. Maus) A packed crowd has assembled at Metro Headquarters in northeast Portland for a public hearing on the Columbia River Crossing … Read more