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Editorial: Inslee needs to avoid quick CRC decision

Tue., April 16, 2013

Among in-state construction projects, the Columbia River Crossing could not be much farther from Spokane. But its troubles are disrupting transportation planning for all of Washington, which needs to get several projects on the road to completion.

Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week pushed for quick legislative approval of state funding for what could be a $3.4 billion project. From this distance, we think it’s time to slow down.

The CRC, as it’s known, would replace Interstate 5 bridges between Vancouver and Portland. The northbound bridge was built in 1917, the southbound in 1958. Both have lift spans at the Washington end to allow passage by large vessels or cargo.

Those lifts are important because companies upstream of the bridge would have to relocate or close if a new bridge does not have adequate clearance. But – and this is where it starts to get nasty – opponents of a new bridge say designers are reluctant to elevate the bridge because climbing a steeper grade would increase the cost of operating a light-rail connection from Portland.

The TriMet system has some severe financial challenges, and many Vancouver/Clark County residents are not eager – loath, in fact – about the prospect light-rail would bring a piece of those woes across the river.

Unenthusiastic would also be a kind way of characterizing their regard for tolls expected to repay a substantial portion of the bridge costs, and the cost of new approaches on the Oregon side. The estimate kicked around in public by opponents is as much as $2,000 a year, revenue they say will wither as commuters adapt by taking other routes, telecommuting, etc.

Traffic volume has been static for the last decade.

Polling done for the Columbian newspaper shows residents about evenly split on the project, with or without light rail.

Undeterred, the Oregon Legislature passed, and Gov. John Kitzhaber signed, a bill authorizing $450 million in state spending for the project, a sum they expect Washington to match. So does Inslee. So does LaHood.

But the folks in Salem have not yet identified the source of that $450 million. The same is true in Olympia, although there are mumbles about gas tax increases or other levies to fund transportation upgrades. The Senate has already approved a transportation budget stripped of money for major projects. The carrot LaHood offers on the CRC is a substantial federal contribution: $65 million in President Barack Obama’s budget for next year. The stick? It goes away without swift action by Washington lawmakers.

Leveraging LaHood’s comments into pressure for new highway revenues will not sit well with taxpayers. Legitimate questions have been raised about project design costs, for which an audit is in order. Design flaws on the Highway 520 Bridge over Lake Washington potentially costing more than $100 million have already damaged the state Department of Transportation’s credibility.

The SR 520 and CRC overruns, if confirmed, did not occur on Inslee’s watch. He would be unwise to buy in with a too-hasty decision to proceed full speed ahead.