Bridge planning plugging along
The Columbian fills readers in on the progress of the Columbia River Crossing project, the effort to build a new bridge between Portland and Vancouver on I-5. The Vancouver City Council received updates on the project, according to the article. One interesting tidbit is the potential timeline for federal funding:
My thoroughly non-scientific "cul-de-sac" poll indicates to me that most people might support light rail, if it connects to a sensible local bus system that allows them to use it. Things have changed an awful lot since 1995, and with the county poised to expand the urban growth boundaries transportation needs in Clark County will only increase.
C-Tran intends to open a new transit center at 99th St. and I-5 by the end of the year, abandoning the ill-conceived 7th Street bus mall that runs across the street grid in downtown Vancouver.
Whether light rail could extend very far north is an open question at this point. There's just no getting around the fact that light rail is very expensive, and it certainly wouldn't make any sense to have it serve far-flung neighborhoods directly, but it might make sense to bring it downtown. Hopefully someone can put a dollar figure on the light rail versus bus rapid transit option so people can judge better.
The deadlines approach in part because of the congressional timetable for applying for federal money, which will be necessary for the effort. Congress expects to authorize a new five-year, 2009-14 transportation spending plan by fall 2008, contributing to the hurry-up needed for the job, Rorabaugh said.The article goes on the mention a scheduled July 23 workshop to discuss possible mass transit routes, which will be a huge decision.
My thoroughly non-scientific "cul-de-sac" poll indicates to me that most people might support light rail, if it connects to a sensible local bus system that allows them to use it. Things have changed an awful lot since 1995, and with the county poised to expand the urban growth boundaries transportation needs in Clark County will only increase.
C-Tran intends to open a new transit center at 99th St. and I-5 by the end of the year, abandoning the ill-conceived 7th Street bus mall that runs across the street grid in downtown Vancouver.
Whether light rail could extend very far north is an open question at this point. There's just no getting around the fact that light rail is very expensive, and it certainly wouldn't make any sense to have it serve far-flung neighborhoods directly, but it might make sense to bring it downtown. Hopefully someone can put a dollar figure on the light rail versus bus rapid transit option so people can judge better.
