HOW TO BUILD A

TOLL FREE BRIDGE NOW!

Details:

The key to an affordable, toll free, bridge is to build ONLY WHAT is needed now and leave the rest until it is actually needed, instead of trying to build everything at once.  One  IBR document shows the costs of each major part of the project: the Washington road projects, the Oregon Road Projects, the Bridge itself and the transit portion (presumably light rail). The key part of his single page document is shown below, and the document is https://www.interstatebridge.org/media/zxolv2lp/ibr-cost-graphic-remediated.pdf

The failed CRC project funding relied on a scheme to spend a lot of local money on one mega-project in hopes of convincing the Federal Government to apply that spending, including road tolls, to be the local match to light rail, thus getting the Federal Government to pay 100% of the cost of light rail.

But those tolls were to be about  $4 each way with an option to DOUBLE that to $8 each way. Since this project is based on the same purpose and need statement, it is reasonable to assume the tolls will be similar - up to $8 each way ($4000/yr for commuters.)  That is a very high bourdon on taxpayers for at least thirty years. OR MORE: transit advocates want it to be used for transit after the bridge is paid off.

The failed CRC also stated that the elements could be built separately, instead of all at once.  That means we can build the needed bridge NOW and delay ALL of the other element until actually needed. They show the cost of the the Replacement Bridge and Approaches, including 100% of the cost of the bridge across the river plus the shared use path and the transit share of the bridge structure, as well as bridge approaches and removal of the existing bridge at $1.64 to $2.45 Billion.  Deducting the cost of the light rail portion at (a guess of about) $1 Billion gives us TOTAL PROJECT COST of $640 million to $1.45 billion. This amount is consistent with other bridges.

This approach includes ALL the elements in the IBR plan and thus meets the “Purpose & Need Statement”

It should be reasonable to assume that the Federal money would pay ½ of this leaving a locally required amount of $320 to $725 million. LESS than what has ALREADY BEEN PROMISED BY Washington State alone!  No toll money needed. No Oregon money needed!


The ONLY LOGICAL CONCLUSION IS:

Quit trying to shove light rail down our throats - Build the Bridge NOW!

An IBR document shows  a bridge is cheap enough to be toll-free!

(And we probably already have the money!)

None of these things are needed NOW, they can be built over time as regular road money becomes available. Delaying this saves $0.99 to $1.49 BILLION

* Transit Investments cost estimate includes new stations, potential park and rides, and facilities to operate transit. This excludes a portion of the river bridge and approaches that will be included in transit costs when seeking federal grant funding.

**The Replacement Bridge and Approaches cost estimate includes 100% of the cost of the bridge across the river (including shared use path and the transit share of the bridge structure), as well as bridge approaches and removal of the existing bridge.

Washington Interchanges, Roadway and Shared Use Path
Cost Range: $0.99 - $1.49 billion

Transit Investments*

Cost Range: $1.32 - $1.99 billion

Interstate Bridge Replacement and Approaches**
Cost Range: $1.64 - $2.45 billion


Oregon Interchanges, Roadway and Shared Use Path
Cost Range: $1.05 - $1.57 billion


THE IBR DOCUMENT EXCERPT

WHAT IT MEANS

None of these things are needed NOW, they can be built over time as regular road money becomes available. Delaying this saves $1.05 to $1.57 BILLION

This is the actual bridge cost WITH connections to existing roads. It also includes “transit share”. Since a freeway bridge plus connections should be UNDER $1 Billion, deleting the ”transit share” may save $0.5 to $1.45 BILLION

This is light rail which is the actual reason for this entire project (1) and has been rejected by the voters several times(2). Not building this saves $1.32 to $1.99 BILLION

Notes

(1) - http://www.nobridgetolls.com/refrences2.html

(2) - http://www.no-tolls.com/follow_money.html

The true rail supporters can be found by looking at where the campaign money came from for the several times that light rail was on the ballot.

Here is one take on who got rich from the failed CRC project: https://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-29837-the-crc-whos-getting-rich.html

The IBR document  and what it means

Outline:

Build the bridge NOW and build less needed elements over time: