The most commented-on community focus topic to date generated the consensus that residents in northern Clark and southern Cowlitz counties do not want to see light rail included in the Interstate Bridge Replacement project.
A post by Reflector reporter Cade Barker in area Facebook community groups asked for people’s thoughts on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, specifically the idea of light rail being included.
The post in the “Battle Ground, WA” Facebook group generated 309 comments in a little over a day. Residents also responded with comments on posts, private messages and emails.
“My biggest concern with light rail is not so much the crime coming to Clark County but the expense we will have to pay yearly for it,” Sallie Ferrell Nielson, of Battle Ground, commented. “A recent article said that fares will only pay for a fraction of the yearly cost. We don’t want to pay higher taxes for something most of us will never use. Buses from here to the light rail across the river will work just fine.”
Along with the concerns for light rail’s cost and the common idea and the suggestion it will bring more crime to Clark County, residents proposed building another bridge in a different spot.
“That money should be used to build two [to] three additional bridges elsewhere crossing the Columbia River,” Joe Walker, of La Center, commented. “If you alleviate the traffic, the I-5 bridge doesn’t need replaced. Light rail has been put to the voters numerous times and has never been accepted in Clark County. Put it to a vote. The people should decide.”
Along with Walker’s comment, community members from Ridgefield and Woodland are ready for a third crossing, especially one from the Woodland Bottoms area across to St. Helens or Columbia City in Oregon.
Aaron Geisler, of Battle Ground, said, for the last decade, while living in Clackamas County, he took a train to Portland State for his college education. He added that sometimes the train would be delayed or canceled, but overall it was not a bad experience.
Now that Geisler commutes to Portland from Battle Ground two days a week on average, he suggested a third bridge should be built first.
“I think the bridge needs to be replaced but they would be better off adding a third bridge first,” he said. “Adding the train to the bridge doesn’t seem necessary, and it’s like Trimet is attempting to create a solution for a demand for public transportation that doesn’t exist and an investment not worth what it would cost to build the train.”
Bret Hawkins, of Woodland, also suggests that replacing the Interstate Bridge without an alternative option would create problems.
“There is not enough bandwidth on either side to widen the highway and support more traffic flow. We also have a ton of commerce that moves north and south across the current bridges and to even remove one span would add to an already congested situation,” Hawkins said. “I think there needs to be another bridge or tunnel further up river and [Highway] 30 in Oregon needs to start widening now. This would allow trucks and cars to cross over before they ever reach Vancouver.”
Hawkins added that he believes the Interstate Bridge likely needs to be replaced but only after another option is implemented first.
Some concerns of building a new Interstate-5 bridge include the fact that lanes through Portland still need to widen to eliminate bottleneck traffic at the Rose Quarter.
“Changing the bridge doesn’t matter if Oregon doesn’t expand lanes,” Whitney Raab, of Woodland, commented. “It would be better used to build new infrastructure and new bridge locations like they did with 205. Use the existing rail lines for cheap Amtrak fares between Vancouver and Portland. Light rail is not cost effective, used enough to pay for it and is crime ridden, which is why people don’t want to use it. If there was safe mass transportation and better infrastructure it would be used. But there is not.”
On the other hand, some residents support light rail with the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project.
Robin Gestring, of Woodland, commented they are for light rail as it would mean less cars on the road, less accidents and death, less pollution.
“The West Coast in particular is very car centric. I grew up here but have lived in other parts of the country with mass transit, and it’s an easy way to get to a metropolitan area,” Gestring commented. “It’s a very important source for seniors and college ages as well. This area has grown in population at a faster rate than the existing infrastructure can handle. Mass transit is needed.”
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The Reflector thanks everybody who submitted their input to this community focus topic.
