CRC Forum at Concordia University

Crossing the Columbia: How should we spend $3 to $10 billion? Does the I-5 Bridge really need to be replaced? Will the Columbia River Crossing improve the region’s livability? How much will it really cost and how else could that money be used? Make your voice heard to elected officials! Please join neighbors in voicing questions & comments about the Columbia River Crossing directly to elected officials!

What: Public Forum on the Columbia River Crossing (CRC). Co-sponsored by the Northeast
Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN) & the Concordia Neighborhood Association
When: Monday, March 7th, 7pm to 9pm
Where: Concordia University’s Luther Hall -Room 121 (NE Holman btwn NE 27th & NE 29th)

Agenda:

1. Mara Gross of Coalition for Livable Future & Joe Cortright of Impresa & CEOs for Cities
2. Statements from Neighborhood Associations & Neighbors
3. Feedback from elected officials including: Tom Hughes, Rex Burkholder,
Tina Kotek, Lew Frederick and Chip Shields.

More info: Contact the NECN at 503.823.4570 or visit www.NECoalition.org

NECN Land Use Meeting

The NECN Land Use and Transportation Committee meets Wednesday, February 23rd at 7:00pm at the NECN Office.

A key event the LUTC is planning right now is a Public Forum on the Columbia River Crossing with your Elected Officials. While government officials are still being confirmed, please save the date of Monday, March 7th, 7:00 – 9:00pm at Concordia University . This forum will give Neighborhood Associations and other community members a chance to state their perspective on the planning of the CRC project, and hear responses from your representatives. We encourage joining together with your own Neighborhood Association, or even your Association’s Land Use and Transportation Committee to help craft a statement. This event is co-sponsored by the Concordia Neighborhood Association and NECN. If you have questions about the CRC proposal, or how you can participate please email LUTC@NECoalition.org or call the LUTC support staff at 503-823-4223.

CRC Update

From the Columbia River Crossing:

Portland Working Group recommends elevated Hayden Island light rail station

The Portland Working Group (PWG) has recommended an elevated station for the new light rail stop on Hayden Island.

PWG members and CRC staff discussed both elevated and street level options late last year at an open house with 85 attendees. An online survey was also used to gather input on the design of the Hayden Island station.

The PWG and project staff are now moving forward with discussion and design detail of the elevated station, connections to local businesses and the local street network. Check the CRC website for future meeting materials and agendas. PWG next meets Jan. 12 at the Jantzen Beach SuperCenter from 4 to 6 p.m..

Project Sponsors Council receives update on Bridge Expert Review Panel work

CRC Bridge Expert Review Panel chair, Tom Warne provided an overview of the panel’s work at the Dec. 10 meeting of the Project Sponsors Council. The panel was convened by the Oregon and Washington departments of transportation to re-evaluate river bridge types and configurations for the CRC in response to a recommendation made by the CRC Independent Review Panel.

The panel will analyze all applicable river crossing options, including those that may have been dropped from consideration in the past and re-evaluate project constraints. The panel is expected to have a final report in January 2011. Additional information on the bridge panel is available online.

In-water soil study concludes in North Portland Harbor and Columbia River

The Columbia River Crossing project recently finished drilling work in North Portland Harbor and the Columbia River to gather additional information on soil type and stability to help advance bridge foundation designs.

Since beginning in November, drilling work was conducted at about 20 sites. The CRC project includes a replacement crossing for the Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River and new bridge structures between Hayden Island and Marine Drive. Supports for the structures are being designed to extend through the sandy river bed to solid ground or rock.

Additional information is available online.

Columbia River Crossing contact information

Email: feedback@columbiarivercrossing.orgMail: 700 Washington St., Suite 300
Vancouver, WA 98660
Phone: 360-737-2726 or 503-256-2726
Fax: 360-737-0294

www.ColumbiaRiverCrossing.org

Columbia River Crossing: A More Sensible Alternative?

A conversation with George Crandall, urban designer; Bill Scott, founder and general manager of Zipcar; and Joe Cortright, economist.

Three of the region’s top experts in design, economics and transportation offer a cheaper, more buildable alternative to the proposed 1-5 bridge over the Columbia River.

Part of the Agora events series of the City Club of Portland

Presented in partnership with Portland Monthly magazine.

Date: November 15, 2010 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Jimmy Mak’s 221 NW 10th Ave.

NECN to Form CRC Subcommittee

The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is forming a LUTC (Land Use and Transportation Committee) subcommittee to consider how the neighborhoods can continue to advocate for a Columbia River Crossing project that increases neighborhood livability.

If you are interested in working on this issue, please join in on Friday, August 13th at 8am at the Cadillac Café at 1801 NE Broadway. Please let us know you’ll be coming so we can look out for you! Contact Shoshana Cohen at Shosana@necoalition.org