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U.S. Transportation Bill Helps County

Posted on: Friday, 29 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

Jul. 29--A major federal transportation funding bill expected to be approved today in the House includes $14.2 million to study a new Columbia River crossing and $4 million for the Maya Lin-designed land bridge that would span State Route 14 near the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

The money is part of a huge transportation bill that would allocate $30.3 million for eight transportation projects in Clark County.

"These projects will generate jobs, boost our local economy and create safe, less-congested roads," said Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, who is a member of the House Transportation Committee.

Money destined for state Department of Transportation projects in Clark County, however, could be endangered if a proposed initiative to repeal a 9.5-cent gas tax makes it to the Nov. 8 general election ballot and is approved by voters.

"Some of the state gas-tax money would be used to match the federal bill," said JiLayne Jordan, spokeswoman for the Washington Department of Transportation. "We don't know what will happen if the state tax is rejected."

Regardless, no work on the state projects can start until the gas-tax fate is known, Jordan said.

Federal money for the land bridge and city projects would not be affected by the possible repeal, said Thayer Rorabaugh, transportation manager for Vancouver.

Baird credited Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both D-Wash., for their work to secure the money for the region.

The money is part of the six-year congressional reauthorization for transportation funding. The last was approved in 1998. In 2004, a reauthorization died because of a threatened veto by President Bush.

Senate action also is expected today. The latest bill would go to the president for his approval.

Clark County projects include:

--Interstate 5 Columbia River crossing preliminary engineering and environmental impact statement, $14.2 million: Provides money to study improvements to I-5 between State Route 500 in Vancouver and Marine Drive in Portland. The total was secured in varying amounts by Oregon and Washington delegation members.

--I-5/Salmon Creek area improvement, $10.8 million: Provides money for road improvements in the Northeast 134th Street/I-5/I-205 corridor.

--I-5/Delta Park to Lombard, $16.2 million: The project is expected to include an additional southbound lane between Delta Park and the Lombard interchange. The freeway narrows from three lanes to two in this area, often causing delays. The total was secured in varying amounts by Oregon and Washington delegation members.

--18th Street between 87th Avenue and Northeast 192nd Avenue, $3.2 million: Project would widen and extend Northeast 18th Street between Northeast 87th and 192nd avenues and add sidewalks and pedestrian pathways, street lights, and traffic signals.

--State Route 14 corridor in Camas and Washougal, $1.5 million: Would help pay for study of this bottleneck blamed for numerous accidents.

--I-5/State Route 501 interchange replacement in Ridgefield, $9 million: Would improve the interchange and widen SR 501.

--Confluence Project, $4 million: The land bridge is one of seven projects of the Vancouver-based nonprofit that hired Lin and others for art projects at confluences on or near the Columbia River, inspired by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Native Americans and the environment.

--Mill Plain Boulevard, $1.25 million: Would improve the road between Southeast 172nd and 192nd avenues.

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Source: The Oregonian

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