CRC listening sessions focus on tolling and traffic management

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Columbia River Crossing Tolling Study Committee is hosting two listening sessions to provide information, answer questions and hear the public’s thoughts on tolling options.

A portion of the funding for the CRC project is projected to come from tolls, which will supplement funds from federal and state sources. The CRC project is also looking at tolling as a way to help manage traffic congestion and provide bridge users faster and more reliable trips. Several examples of what tolling might look like are being studied to understand the benefits, consequences and tradeoffs associated with various options. The Tolling Study Committee would like to hear the public’s thoughts about how preliminary scenarios would work for people who use the I-5 and I-205 bridges and those who live in nearby communities.

The study committee includes the directors of the Oregon and Washington transportation departments and the chairs of the two state’s transportation commissions. Representatives from the CRC Project Sponsors Council also will participate in the listening sessions.

Tolling listening sessions:

Tuesday, June 30, 2009, Washington State Department of Transportation, SW Region, Room 102, 11018 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver, WA

Wednesday, July 1, 2009, Jantzen Beach SuperCenter, Community Room, (across from the food court), 1405 N Jantzen Beach Center, Portland, OR

Both events begin at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. A short presentation starts at 6:30 p.m.

The study committee will briefly present information on tolling technology, traffic effects and bridge funding and then ask for input from attendees. After reviewing public feedback on these initial scenarios, information will be updated and presented during outreach events this fall. Input from this process will be compiled and presented to the Oregon and Washington legislatures in January 2010 to help shape future policies regarding tolling.

About the project

CRC is a bi-state project to reduce congestion, enhance mobility and improve safety on I-5 between SR 500 in Vancouver and Columbia Boulevard in Portland. The project will replace the I-5 bridge, extend light rail to Vancouver, improve seven interchanges, and enhance the pedestrian and bicycle path between the two cities. The cost estimates for the project is $3.1 to $4.2 billion, a portion of which would be financed by tolls. More information may be found on the CRC project Web site: http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org.

More information: www.ColumbiaRiverCrossing.org