Bruce Warner, DirectorOregon Department of

Transportation

A Bi-State Project: Lessons Learned

I-5 Corridor Columbia River Crossings at Portland-Vancouver

I-205 Bridge

I-5 BridgeBNSF Rail BridgePort of Vancouver

Port of Portland

Portland International Airport

Portland

Vancouver

WASHINGTON

OREGON

Duration of Morning and Evening Peak-Period Traffic on the I-5/Columbia River Bridge and

Approaches in 2000 and 2020

Photo: Port of Portland

12

6

1

78

2

39

10

45

11

A.M.

12

6

1

78

2

39

10

45

11

P.M.

Year 2000

12

6

1

78

2

39

10

45

11

A.M.

12

6

1

78

2

39

10

45

11

P.M.

Year 2020

Freight Rail Congestion Comparisons (over 96 hour period)

154238Passenger Trains

1977555Freight Trains

20.0%

813.0 hrs

12.5 mph

Chicago

18.2%Delay Ratio

402.0 hrsHours of Delay

12.3 mphAverage Speed

Portland/Vancouver

Measure

• What is the Magnitude of the Problem in the Corridor?

• What Is the Cost of Inaction?

• What Improvements are Needed?

• How Can the Improvements Be Funded?

• What are the Next Steps?

Phase 1 Committee Charge

Phase 1 Findings

• Doing nothing in the I-5 Corridor is unacceptable.

• There must be a multi-modal solution in the I-5 Corridor -- there is no silver bullet.

• Transportation funds are limited. Paying for improvements in the Corridor will require new funds.

• The region must consider measures that promote transportation-efficient development.

– balance of housing and jobs

– better traffic management

• Region needs to develop strategic plan for the Corridor.

Governors’ Task Force

28 member committee of representatives from Washington and Oregon.Members are from private business, community groups,

environmental groups, and the public sector.

Community Forum

Approximately 80-100 membersCross-section of Community

Meets six times at major milestones andadditionally as needed.

Neighborhoods, Businesses, Interest Groups

General Public

State and Regional Decision-making Bodies:•Bi-State Committee•Metro and the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council•Oregon and Washington Transportation Commissions

Involvement of the Community

• Task Force membership

• Community Forum

• Design workshops

• Public input at milestones

• Environmental justice stakeholder meetings

• Public comment at meetings

I-5 Partnership Public Outreach Activities

• Mailings (up to 45,000 people)

• E-mail

• Canvassing

• 7 rounds of open houses/public meetings

• Visits with neighborhood, business and other groups

• Website -- information and surveys (over 4,500 primary computers have accessed the site over 330,000 times)

• News features & Advertisements -- billboard, media

• Information sites -- libraries, coffee shops, etc.

Regional Economic Effects of the I-5 Corridor/Columbia River Crossing

Transportation Choke Points

prepared for

Oregon Department of Transportation

presented by

Lance R. GrenzebackCambridge Systematics, Inc.

May 2003

Comparison of River Crossings in Selected U.S. Metropolitan Areas of Similar Size

310Missouri River1.78 millionKansas City

3>30Three Rivers2.36 millionPittsburgh

04Hampton Roads/ Chesapeake Bay

1.57 millionNorfolk

28Mississippi River2.60 millionSt. Louis

12Columbia River1.92 millionPortland-Vancouver

27Ohio River1.65 millionCincinnati

Rail XingsHwy XingsBody of WaterPopulationMetro Area

Freight Impacts

• Congestion will spread into the midday period, which is the peak-travel period for trucks

• Annual vehicle hours of delay on truck routes in the I-5 corridor will increase by 93 percent from 13,400 hours in 2000 to 25,800 hours by 2020

• Congested lane-miles on truck routes will increase by 58 percent, and

• The cost of truck delay will increase by 140 percent to nearly $34 million

National Freight Flows for Goods with Origins or Destinations in Oregon or Washington

Source: Cambridge Systematics based on Reebie Associates TRANSEARCH data, 1998

Oregon-Washington Origins and Destinations for Truck Freight Crossing the I-5 and I-205 Bridges at Portland-Vancouver

With Tonnage of Freight on Truck Routes Used to Access BridgeNote:

Commodities shipped to or from British

Columbia are assigned to Whatcom County

Origins and Destinations of Truck Freight Crossing I-5 and I-205 Columbia River

Bridges, 1998, All Commodities100.05 0.25 1.0 2.50

(million tons)

0.25 0.75 2.5 5.0 33.00

(million tons)

Volume of Truck Freight on Routes Used to Access I-5 and I-205 Columbia River Bridges, 1998, All Commodities

Source: Cambridge Systematics based on Reebie Associates TRANSEARCH data, 1998

Oregon-Washington Origins and Destinations for Rail Freight Using the Portland-Vancouver Rail Triangle

With Tonnage of Freight on Rail Lines Used to Access Triangle

Origins and Destinations of Rail Freight Shipped via Portland-Vancouver Rail

Triangle, 1998, All Commodities100.05 0.25 1.0 2.50

(million tons)

Volume of Freight on Portland-Vancouver Rail Triangle Access Routes, 1998, All Commodities

0.25 0.75 2.5 5.0 33.00

(million tons)

Note: Commodities shipped to or from British

Columbia are assigned to Whatcom County

Source: Cambridge Systematics based on Reebie Associates TRANSEARCH data, 1998

Lessons Learned• Limit project scope to I-5 Corridor.

• Do not force a solution.

• Be patient and be prepared to spend money.

• Work hard to keep all interests/stakeholders at the table.

• Be multi-modal.

• Focus on the economics.

• Ensure equal 50/50 participation by both states.

• Be sensitive in dealing with bigger partner/smaller partner.