By Guest Columnist
November 19, 2009, 7:30AM
Halloween was more than two weeks ago, and yet the Columbia River Crossing project continues to haunt the region like a zombie that just won't die. The latest rendition of the I-5 bridge supported by the CRC Project Sponsors Council is just the newest idea to break out of the living dead's coffin.
As Washington and Oregon public-interest groups underscored the crumbling of the CRC project and the prospects dimmed on its chances, the sponsors council responded with a "downsized" bridge that is essentially the same size as the largest option originally proposed. The sponsors council continues to fail to consider four realities: physical, fiscal, political and community.
The physical reality is the imperative to reduce global warming pollution.There is a 90 percent likelihood that the Earth's surface will warm 9 degrees within 90 years unless action is taken now. The cost of failing to mitigate this warming will be far higher than the cost to solve the crisis. In fact, solving the crisis means growing the economy with more green jobs, more small businesses and more savings for families. That's why Oregon has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 75 percent below their 1990 levels by 2050, while Washington has set a target of reducing emissions 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
But a new report, released last Thursday by Environment Oregon, shows that Oregon's global warming pollution increased 41 percent since 1990. Unfortunately, the CRC proponents' own draft environmental impact statement finds that a 12-lane bridge would increase the corridor's global warming pollution by 32 percent. And according to the recently unveiled Regional Transportation Plan, the CRC would help increase the region's transportation pollution by nearly 50 percent. A phased-in approach of the CRC, starting with 10 lanes and then expanding to 12 lanes, would not decrease annual pollution or induced sprawl. It's obvious we're going in the wrong direction.
The fiscal reality is the boondoggle that the proposed bridge represents. The price tag is gigantic -- potentially up to $4.2 billion, $3.6 billion for the latest rendition -- and this presents a real challenge for taxpayers to pay for the project while also funding police, schools and health care. It also represents a lost chance to invest in light rail, electric buses, low-income homes and green buildings that will help meet our climate challenge while creating great places to live. And serendipitously, these same investments would relieve the need to expand the I-5 bridge.
The political reality is that Oregon and Washington leaders don't support a massive bridge. Those who want to downsize the project include U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, Potland Mayor Sam Adams, Metro President David Bragdon and Metro Councilor (and candidate for Metro president) Rex Burkholder. The other candidate for Metro president, Bob Stacey, has been a leading voice opposing the CRC. Numerous Oregon legislators from around the state, most notably Reps. Jules Kopel Bailey, Cliff Bentz and Brian Clem either question or oppose the CRC. To the north, state Sen. Don Benton opposes the CRC and Mayor-elect Tim Leavitt opposes tolling, a crucial element to financing the bridge. While all of these leaders support reducing congestion and providing economic opportunity to both sides of the river, the current plan -- whether the bridge is 10 or 12 lanes -- is not a political reality.
The community reality is that both Vancouverites and Portlanders want great cities. We want beautiful cities where our kids can safely walk and bike to school, where families can shop at a neighborhood grocery, and where workers have inexpensive commutes. While a growing environmental consciousness and ethic is one reason for this trend, people mostly just understand that mixed-use development, pocket parks, living closer to work, and more light rail, bus and bike infrastructure just makes for better places to live. We cannot build these great cities by connecting them with polluting highways that encourage sprawling development patterns.
Like a zombie, the Columbia River Crossing projects exists in a fiction. If we are to reduce global warming pollution, live within our financial means, and gain political and community support, regional corridor improvements need to be planned with a basis in reality.
Both Metro and the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council are mandated by their states to meet the state climate goals in their transportation and development plans. If our region is going to live within its carbon, fiscal, political and community means, we must make improvements to the I-5, I-205 and rail corridors that will meet our shared climate challenge.
It is clear the current CRC planning process led by the state departments of transportation won't achieve climate reductions. If we are to make progress, we will need an independent analysis and plan. Because of the state mandates to reduce global warming pollution from transportation, Metro and RTA are best positioned to lead this new effort.
The best way to kill a zombie isn't a silver stake or holy water; it's to start living in nonfiction, in reality. We don't have to end the current CRC process. We just need a legitimate independent process that the public can believe in.
Brock Howell is an advocate for Environment Oregon.
