We lose over a $1 billion a year to congestion in our region annually. It is good that legislators are committed to dealing with traffic problems. It is appalling to hear some say “we spent so much money we should have pushed forward.” Would you say the same thing to a bride at a wedding?
1. The first bridge design was so awful and unsafe with bikes in a tunnel Box Girder style.
2. The second bridge was engineered so poorly that it could not stand and an expert Bridge Review Panel said it couldn’t be fixed, scrap it and start over.
3. The third bridge was too low (95 feet) then raised (to 110 feet). The current bridge is 178 feet.
4. Jobs created 2,000 (including out of state) not 20,000 CRC boosted.
5. Light rail not required only transit.
6. Project Sponsor Council met in secret for 18 months and self disbanded without naming a replacement. Contractor David Evans made decisions for approximately 18 months pushing “the project” forward before it was discovered there was no oversight committee.
7. ODOT used Maintain and Operations funds (until discovered) to avoid legislative oversight.
8. $20 million turned into $50 million for a Record Of Decision. Who approved going over $50 million to $210-plus million mostly on the signature of one employee?
9. Monthly line item expense sheets still missing and it’s unknown how much money was actually spent.
10. Metro President David Bragdon and Project Sponsor Council member supported the project in the beginning, his final public testimony shocking.
11. In 2010 the Project Sponsor Council Demanded outside Independent Review Panel or they would pull the plug.
12. We have fewer bridges than similar size metropolitans.
This short list is compelling and needs acknowledgement, as fact before the community will allow a new project. Until the WA/OR Departments of Transportation settle the “books,” false statements, and lack of process issues they can’t be trusted.
Unfortunately that is exactly who the legislators turn to for transportation help. Citizens have the vision, elected official provide leadership, and the DOTs engineering and construction. A citizen-driven bridge conversation and task force public, open, and factual has to take place now, for us to build trust with stakeholders.
For more facts, CVTV has the CRC Task force, and the CRC Review,
CRCfacts.info – http://www.crcfacts.info/, StopCRC.com, https://www.facebook.com/StopCRC?ref=br_tf.
Sharon Nasset
Portland
