Public Involvement

Good public involvement is essential for good decision making. Our goal is to inform, educate and engage the diverse Oregon and Washington communities interested in or affected by the Columbia River Crossing project.

Public Involvement picture

Public outreach activities have grown and evolved with the project development process. These are some of the ways the public has helped shape the project:

The initial list of potential solutions to congestion in the project area included ideas from the public gathered at open houses and during a public comment period in the fall of 2005. These ideas were later narrowed down in spring 2006 to those offering the best outcomes based on initial staff screening and public feedback.
The list of alternatives to receive rigorous study and analysis in the DEIS process grew as a result of public input and CRC Task Force recommendations.
Strategies to reach and communicate with the broader public have been refined as a result of conversations with neighborhood associations and the project’s Community and Environmental Justice Group.
A 39-member Task Force met 23 times to advise the project on evaluation criteria, development of alternatives and one Locally Preferred Alternative. The group included leaders from Oregon and Washington's business, civic, neighborhood, freight, commuter and environmental agencies and groups.

These are the ways we are engaging the community:

Advisory Groups

Presentations and Discussions

Neighborhood associations
Business associations
Civic clubs
Faith groups
Community organizations
Schools and university classes

Community Meetings and Events

Open houses
- Fall 2005
- April 2006
- January/February 2007
- October 2007
- May 2008 (combined with public hearings)
Design workshops – Summer 2006
Summer drop-in events – July/August 2007
Informal question and answer sessions – May/June 2008

Fairs and Festival Booths

Street fairs
Festivals and celebrations
Farmers markets

Project News and Information

Comprehensive website
Monthly e-mail news
Newsletters
Fact sheets
Postcards
Traveling displays

Festival Booth Example