Today Portland Mayor Sam Adams and I released a joint policy statement to our colleagues on the Project Sponsors Council of the Columbia River Crossing project.
Although we support the general direction of the project refinement on the table for discussion at the PSC meeting tomorrow (Dec. 4), we feel it doesn’t go far enough or contain enough analysis to achieve specific performance measures, match the scope and scale of the project to realistic revenues, or enable us to make urgent project decisions. The current proposal contains incomplete and potentially flawed assumptions and lacks performance-based criteria that have been requested by PSC members.
Neither Mayor Adams nor I support cancelling or “restarting” the project, as there has been a large amount of solid work accomplished so far. We believe that there are good reasons to do a project, but it needs to be one that meets realistic demands at a price we can afford. The current proposal is not viable, but we are confident that if we have the information we need, we can come up with a version that does work.
The likely delay in federal transportation bill reauthorization would provide a window during which we propose that PSC agency staff work with CRC project staff to develop:
- a reliable budget based on realistic revenue projections
- a realistic assessment of the relationship between tolls, updated demand forecasts, desired land use patterns and size of the CRC facilities
- project elements that are based in performance outcomes
- recognition that the interstate system must function in concert with local systems.
This strategy will enable us to realistically evaluate options and buy the best product to achieve the goals we all agree on – at a price we can afford.
The Project Sponsors Council meets Friday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Port of Portland offices at 121 NW Everett St. in Portland.