Is the I-5 Bridge Headed for Another Failure?

Future 42 Clark County has reservations with Governor Bob Ferguson’s decision to proceed with the light rail portion of the Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement project across the Columbia River in Clark County, as the inclusion of light rail risks repeating the same mistakes that led to the failure of the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) in 2013.

Reflecting on that 2013 CRC proposal, Mountain States Policy Center Transportation Analyst Bob Pishue recently wrote, “…despite the massive financial hurdles, lawmakers in both states (WA and OR) refused to remove the costly rail portion of the bridge, which ultimately led to the defeat of a ballot measure to increase the sales tax rate by 0.1% to fund rail.”

Bridge critics argue that the current project with light rail is following a similar trajectory. The light rail component was originally estimated at about $1 billion of a $4 billion proposal in 2009, but total costs under the new Interstate Bridge Replacement Program have now ballooned to approximately $13.6 billion. The expensive price tag poses several problems. First, the $13.6 billion commitment would consume roughly half of Washington State’s entire two-year transportation budget, leaving other critical transportation needs in southwest Washington either unmet or unfunded. Second, the project does little to alleviate congestion on the crossing, as it would replace the existing three-lane bridge with a new three-lane bridge.

Pishue also notes that “rail ridership has actually decreased in the region, despite significant population growth,” with TriMet ridership in the Portland area down 32% since pre-COVID levels and operating expenses up 194%.  A forensic audit further cited a “severe lack of accountability, transparency, and oversight,” concerns that critics say are compounded by retaining the rail component. Despite rising costs, falling ridership, and mounting political hurdles, Governor Ferguson remains committed to light rail.

Future 42 Clark County urges a course correction, warning that continuing down this path risks repeating the CRC’s collapse in 2013 and calls for “practical solutions without light rail,” such as flexible bus rapid transit, investments in autonomous vehicles or expanded ride share to deliver a fiscally responsible, earthquake-safe replacement for the much needed replacement for the I-5 bridge.