The opportunity to weigh in on two significant and uniquely different projects is about to expire when the comment periods on their respective Environmental Impact Statements close this week.
Don’t let them end without voicing your opinion.
Both of these projects have the potential to change not only the landscape, but the lifestyle of our community. For the Columbia River Crossing project it is the Draft EIS, for the Cowlitz tribe’s initial reservation on which they will likely build a casino, it is the Final EIS.
For more than three years, a task force of 39 leaders from Washington and Oregon public agencies, civic organizations, neighborhoods, freight, commuter and environmental groups has been meeting to identify the best solution to address the failing Interstate 5 bridge.
The alternatives outlined in the DEIS address more than just a bridge replacement. They include all on and off ramps within the project area, a high-capacity transit component, pedestrian and bicycle access as well as issues around safety and freight mobility. Two of the four “build” alternatives include replacement bridges. One of these includes HCT using bus rapid transit and the other, light rail.
By the time this issue goes to press, the task force will have made its decision about which alternative to recommend to partner agencies, but comments will be taken about the alternatives through July 1. To make your comments, visit www.columbiarivercrossing.org or email DraftEISfeedback@colubiarivercrossing.org.
Considering the affect on local business, we strongly urge support for the replacement bridge option. Eliminating the negative effect the current spans have on commerce and freight mobility is reason enough for the project to move ahead.
We don’t believe the project should be delayed at this point about whether the HCT option is bus or light rail. Neither mass transit solution offers a long-term business advantage, one over the other, though in the short term, it could decimate local businesses along its route during construction. But leveraging the investment in light rail south of the river seems to be prudent and it has support of residents, according to recent polls.
Cowlitz EIS
June 30 is the deadline for comment on the Cowlitz Final EIS, which addresses the impact of the proposed initial reservation and casino resort development between Ridgefield and La Center. Comments may be submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Portland office, 911 N.E. 11th Ave., Suite 2.
In the space reserved for guest opinions today is a column from Citizens Against Reservation Shopping. It argues against the proposal.
We intended to also have a column on this page from the Cowlitz Tribe advocating for the project, but the unfortunate and untimely death of the Cowlitz Tribal Chairman John Barnett understandably made it impossible for spokespersons to take time away from the memorial events of the last week. Barnett served the tribe for more than 25 years and his legacy will long be remembered.
Although the comment period will have ended, we will carry the column from the Cowlitz in our July 11 edition.
