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Phased Alternatives

The following are 6 steps that can be taken after the current build alternatives are rejected because of their cost and negative impact on global climate change.


Step 1 -Tolls

Purpose:

  • Modulates the flow of traffic across the existing bridges, especially during peak hours in the prime direction.
  • Allows the flow of essential commercial traffic without massive infrastructure development.
  • Raises revenue.

Example:

  • Apply for federal demonstration grant to establish an electronic and license recognition (no tollbooths), dynamic, variable rate toll system on the existing I-5 bridges.
  • I-205 Bridge could also be tolled.

Cost:

  • Slight implementation costs, but would raise more than enough revenue to pay for the collection costs




Step 2 – Improve Public Transit

Purpose:

  • Provides a viable travel alternative to the private automobile, especially for commuters.

Example:

  • Extend MAX north to Hayden Island as part of the Milwaukie Light Rail Project in conjunction with an eastside connection between OMSI and the Rose Quarter.
  • Provides a 13 mile long north/south high capacity rapid transit line between Hayden Island and Milwaukie (42 minutes) with daily transfer connections to 550 east/west MAX trains and over 1,650 TriMet buses.
  • Hayden Island provides a convenient location for C-Tran buses to interface with the TriMet system.
  • The Portland Harbor MAX Bridge could also accommodate pedestrians, bikes and possibly local vehicle traffic.

Cost:

  • Undetermined.




Step 3 - Fix the Railroad Bridge

Purpose:

  • Allows tugs and their tows to pass safely under the “hump” of the Interstate Bridges eliminating the need for bridge lifts except for rare occasions.
  • Provides more clearance at the Railroad Bridge for all vessels.
  • Seismically upgrades the Railroad Bridge’s opening span.
  • Increases rail capacity by reducing opening time.

Example:

  • Re-apply for Truman-Hobbs funds to replace the old swing span with a wider lift span located closer to the center of the river as proposed by the Columbia River Tugboat Association in 2002.

Cost:

  • $ 42 million (2002 dollars)
  • No local funds




Step 4 – Seismic Upgrade

Purpose:

Example:

  • Current CRC recommendation for the Supplemental Bridge Alternatives.

Cost:

  • $125 – 265 million (2006 dollars)
  • Federal funds and Oregon’s share of toll revenues.




Step 5 – Modify ramps (Hayden Island)

Purpose:

  • Reduce local traffic congestion.
  • Provide fast convenient C-Tran bus access to Hayden Island
  • Provide better NB truck access to I-5

Example:

  • Add truck bypass lane from Marine Drive to Hayden Island. (convert existing bike/ped. lane on Portland Harbor Bridge to general traffic)
  • Limit NB Hayden Island on-ramp traffic to buses and emergency vehicles in the prime direction during peak hours.

Cost:

  • Minimal
  • Oregon’s share of toll revenue




Step 6 – Light Rail to Clark County

Purpose:

  • Improves transit service to Clark County
  • Reduces operating cost to meet high capacity demand in corridor
  • Allows C-Tran the flexibility to expand and improve its local feeder bus network.

Example:

  • Construct a downstream light rail bridge with an opening span, following the profile of the existing Interstate Bridges. (less costly than a high span; it would not normally open during hours of rail operation due to Step 3 above)
  • Provide for bikes and pedestrians.
  • It could also be built to provide for local vehicles (tolled?)
  • It could also be built to accommodate SB SR14 traffic, (tolled) allowing the SB freeway traffic to flow more smoothly over the existing bridges.

Cost:

  • Would vary because of vehicle options selected.
  • Undetermined, but significantly less than current proposals because it would be much shorter and would not include interchange modifications.
  • Could be funded by FTA and Washington toll revenue - FHWA, if vehicles are included.