Current project schedule: Early construction activities in 2013; major bridge construction to begin in 2014

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Project history and timeline: regional collaboration necessary at all stages

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1999-2000

Portland/Vancouver I-5 Trade Corridor

Project Owners
ODOT/WSDOT
Consulted
14 member Leadership Committee
Study Area
I-5: I-84 in Oregon to I-205 in Washington
Purpose
Examine transportation needs and economic consequences of investments in the I-5 Trade Corridor

Major Outcomes
Portland/Vancouver I-5 Trade Corridor: Freight Feasibility and Needs Assessment Final Report
• Recommended the region initiate a public process to develop a plan for improvements to the I-5 corridor

Approval of Outcomes
14 member Leadership Committee, City of Vancouver, City of Portland, Port of Vancouver, Port of Portland, C-TRAN, TriMet, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, Metro, Oregon Transportation Commission, Washington State Transportation Commission

2001-2002

I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership I-5 Transportation & Trade Partnership

Project Owners
ODOT/WSDOT
Consulted
• 26 member governor-appointed Task Force
• Public
Study Area
I-5: I-84 in Oregon to I-205 in Washington
Purpose
Develop recommendations and determine the level of investment needed in the corridor for highway, transit, and heavy rail improvements, and how to manage the transportation and land-use systems to protect investments

Major Outcomes
Portland/Vancouver I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership: Final Strategic Plan
• Recommended a set of major multi-modal investments in the I-5 corridor for highway, transit and rail improvements
• Defined the Bridge Influence Area (BIA)
• Recommended fixing bottlenecks at Salmon Creek in Clark County (completed in 2006), Delta Park in Portland (completed in 2010) and undertaking an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a new river crossing with extension of light rail to Vancouver

Approval of Outcomes
26 member Task Force, Oregon Transportation Commission, Washington State Transportation Commission, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, Metro

2005-2012

Columbia River Crossing Project Columbia River Crossing Project

Project Owners
ODOT/WSDOT
Project Partners
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), City of Vancouver, City of Portland, C-TRAN, TriMet, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, Metro
Consulted
• 39 member Task Force (February 2005 – June 2008)
• 10 member governor-appointed Project Sponsors Council (November 2008 – present)
• Public
Project Area
I-5: Columbia Boulevard to SR 500 (Bridge Influence Area)
Purpose
Develop a long term, comprehensive solution for five miles of Interstate 5 between Portland and Vancouver

Approval of Outcomes
Governors of Oregon and Washington
Task Force (February 2005 – June 2008)
Project Sponsors Council (November 2008 – December 2011)
Federal Transit Administration
Federal Highway Administration
Locally Preferred Alternative (2008) endorsed by:
City of Vancouver, City of Portland, C-TRAN, TriMet
Locally Preferred Alternative (2008) endorsed and amended into regional transportation plans by:
Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, Metro

2005

Major Outcomes
• Task Force formed
• Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS published
• Adopted Problem Definition identifying transportation problems for the project to address
• Adopted Vision and Values statement
• 70 potential solution concepts identified

2006

Major Outcomes
• FTA and FHWA approved project Purpose and Need
• Screening and Evaluation Framework developed
• Adopted process for identifying a range of alternatives to analyze in Draft EIS
• Concepts screened based on Step A Screening Report
• Advanced 9 river crossing and 7 transit components for further study
• Concepts screened based on Step B of evaluation framework
• 12 preliminary alternatives developed to test range of options to comprehensively address project’s Purpose and Need
• Staff Recommendation of 3 alternatives analyzed in Draft EIS: no build, replacement river crossing with bus rapid transit and replacement river crossing with light rail

2007

Major Outcomes
• Task Force subcommittee explored re-use of existing I-5 bridges to meet project Purpose and Need
• Developed additional alternatives for Draft EIS analysis: supplemental river crossing with bus rapid transit and supplemental river crossing with light rail
• Analyzed effects of alternatives for Draft EIS

2008

Major Outcomes
• Draft EIS published, public comment period on Draft EIS held
• Task Force recommended a replacement bridge with light rail as the locally preferred alternative (LPA)
• Six local partner agencies recommended a replacement bridge with light rail as the LPA
• Metro and RTC adopted the LPA into regional transportation plans
• Governors of Oregon and Washington appointed members to Project Sponsors Council to advise staff on development of the LPA
• Expert review panel held on travel demand model methods and conclusions
• Expert review panel held on greenhouse gas and climate change analysis

2009

Major Outcomes
• Two bridge river crossing recommended by the CRC Urban Design Advisory Group, Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Group and Project Sponsors Council (PSC)
• PSC also recommended creation of a mobility council to advise on active management of mobility for all modes on the Columbia River crossings

2010

Major Outcomes
• Independent Review Panel affirmed project purpose and need, provided recommendations for moving forward
• PSC recommended refined Hayden Island interchange design and replacement I-5 bridges with 10 lanes and full saftey shoulders; completed after collaborative work process with project partners
• City of Vancouver and C-TRAN selected light rail route through downtown Vancouver
• Bridge Review Panel convened to evaluate potential bridge types for replacement I-5 bridge

2011

Major Outcomes
• Governors of Oregon and Washington accept Bridge Review Panel recommendation, choose deck truss bridge type as the replacement structure for I-5 bridge
• Biological Opinion received from NOAA fisheries
• Environmental analysis, submittal of Final EIS
• Record of Decision

2012

Major Outcomes
• Navigation impact analysis
• Economic Benefit Analysis
• Pre-construction testing
• Federal permitting schedule identified in President Obama’s We Can’t Wait initiative
• Washington and Oregon Transportation Commissions approve bi-state tolling agreement

Ongoing Project Development
• Bridge, transit, highway and interchange refinements
• Bridge design and aesthetic refinements
• Light rail station locations and designs
• Pedestrian and bicycle facility designs
• Updated cost estimates and financial planning
• Construction contracting process
• Investment grade tolling analysis