A project to build a new bridge between Portland and Washington State, once scuttled by Washington lawmakers, now has an aggressive timeline. There was some financial pressure involved in getting the project to its current status.
"Federal highway officials on Tuesday endorsed an accelerated timeline proposed by Oregon and Washington transportation officials that sets the two states on a fast track toward construction on a new Interstate Bridge by 2025," reports Andrew Theen.
The federal government has a say in the matter, because if the two states had a deadline for delivering progress or they had to pay back $140 million in planning costs for the bridge, also known as the Columbia River Crossing, or CRC.
"While seeking a decade delay, the states simultaneously suggested a series of aggressive milestones, including reinitiating an environmental review of a proposed project in spring 2020 and starting construction in the summer of 2025," according to Theen.
Under the deal with the feds, the states must now have shown significant progress—buying right of way—by 2024. The two states have been picking up the pace toward reconciliation of the project, as detailed most recently by Planetizen in August 2019. Planetizen also picked up news of the project after its demise in 2014.
FULL STORY: Oregon and Washington: We’ll start building a new Interstate Bridge by 2025
Columbia River Crossing Back From the Dead With a New Name and Potential Changes
2021 will be a big year for planning on the Interstate Bridge Replacement project, née Columbia River Crossing, that will connect Washington and Oregon across the Columbia River.
Columbia River Crossing Project Officially Back From the Dead
Oregon took a substantive step toward reviving efforts to replace the aging Interstate Bridge that links the state with Washington.
Opinion: Columbia River Crossing Just Another Highway Expansion
Billed as a "bridge replacement," the latest iteration of the Columbia River Crossing project is a costly expansion that will impose new tolls and cost upwards of $5 billion, according to an article by Joe Cortright.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research