A proposal from Metro Councilor Bob Stacey would push the region toward "incremental implementation" of plans to address the Interstate 5 crossing of the Columbia River.
The proposal, which would have to be approved by the Metro Council and the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation, leaves the old Columbia River Crossing project in the region's transportation plan, which is set for a minor update this year.
But it identifies specific "intended functions" the CRC once set to serve, and spells out how projects addressing those functions could move forward.
"Because of the size and cost of the Columbia River Crossing project and the uncertainty of the timing, the region should pursue incremental implementation of smaller scale project elements of the preferred alternative," Stacey's proposed amendment says. It continues that they should be "project elements that have current independent utility while being compatible with the eventual implementation of future phases of the project."
The functions to consider, listed in Stacey's proposed RTP amendment, include travel demand, seismic improvements, freight mobility, safety, congestion management, efficiency regarding bridge lifts and ship movement, high capacity transit and service to Hayden Island neighborhoods.
One of the key points of the proposed amendment include the possibility of using public money to improve the BNSF Railway bridge, just downstream of the Interstate Bridge.
It also suggests that the MAX Yellow Line could be extended across North Portland Harbor and onto Hayden Island, without extending into Washington.
Among the project descriptions to evaluate are a concept to "extend high capacity transit, high quality bicycle and pedestrian access, and local traffic access from mainland Portland to Hayden Island," the amendment says.
The proposed amendment says that some early phases of the federally-approved CRC plan could be built without the need for an amendment to the RTP.
"In addition, the region should evaluate and consider lower cost substitute project elements that accomplish the needed functions the Columbia River Crossing project is intended to provide," the amendment says. "If there is agreement to a full substitute project, it could be amended into the RTP to replace the current Columbia River Crossing as the preferred alternative."
The Metro Council's first discussion on the amendment is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, at a work session. No public hearing on the proposed amendment has been scheduled.