What are the outcomes?

Image of bicyclists, lightrail, freeflowing traffic and freight trucks. CRC addresses critical problems in the project area with a comprehensive set of bridge, highway, transit and other improvements. CRC will benefit all travelers through reduced congestion and fewer collisions, benefit the economy through better freight mobility and construction jobs, and benefit community livability in both Oregon and Washington.

Greater reliability and travel time savings

CRC project improvements will reduce congestion by approximately 70 percent compared to a no-build scenario. Fewer hours of daily congestion surrounding the Interstate Bridge will result in predictable travel times and significant travel time savings for commuters. For example, drivers heading north on I-5 from I-84 in Portland to 179th Street in Vancouver during the afternoon peak period are predicted to save 20 minutes compared with the no-build scenario. Highway and transit improvements will save travelers about 6.8 million hours per year in reduced auto and truck delays, which equates to more than $435 million in travel time savings per year in 2030. Congestion relief and improved reliability are a result of bridge and highway improvements, the extension of light rail and bridge tolls.

Fewer collisions in the project area

Collisions are expected to decline by about 70 percent compared to the no-build scenario. Collisions lead to societal costs including property damage, lost earnings, medical costs, emergency services, travel delay, legal fees, and lost quality of life. Project improvements that improve corridor safety include:

No bridge lifts to stop traffic unexpectedly
Added safety shoulders and wider lanes
Improved connections to and from I-5 at closely-spaced interchanges
Increased earthquake protection

Economic benefits that extend across the region

The I-5 corridor is the backbone of a network of roads that provide access to the greater Vancouver and Portland region, which is more susceptible to long-term economic losses from congestion than other areas because of its ties to trade. Two-in-five jobs in Washington and one-in-five jobs in Oregon are supported by trade. The Interstate Bridge is a key piece of freight infrastructure. Approximately $40 billion worth of freight crossed the Interstate Bridge in 2005. According to a economic benefits analysis, economic impacts of the project are estimated to result in the creation of 4,200 jobs and $231 million in additional wages in 2030 compared to the “no build” scenario. Trucks currently carry 67 percent of all freight in the region, and this is expected to grow to 73 percent by 2030, outpacing other freight modes.

CRC creates benefits for both trucks and marine freight through reduced congestion in the corridor, improved access to ports and highways, elimination of bridge lifts and aligning the primary river navigation channel with the channel under the adjacent railroad bridge.

CRC highway, bridge and transit construction is estimated to support or sustain an average of 1,900 construction related jobs each year of construction. Spending on construction of the Columbia River Crossing project directly affects demand for construction materials and jobs.

Enhanced livability in communities connected to the project

CRC will promote quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods by reducing congestion and enhancing community mobility. A combination of added light rail, bicycle and pedestrian pathways, and local road improvements will better connect neighborhoods. Improved highway conditions will reduce cut through traffic on local streets.

CRC project design also includes environmental benefits, such as improved water quality with treatment of 30 million gallons of polluted stormwater each year, improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.