Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has walked away from the planning process for the region's biggest public project. April Baer reports.

BTA's complaints have piled up regarding Columbia Crossing - the proposed replacement for the Interstate Bridge.

When planning began, cycling advocates saw it as a chance to get bike features on a major public project.

But BTA's Michelle Poyourow says the scale of the bridge, and a recent decision to create an underdeck for bikes are unacceptable.

Michelle Poyourow  "Just about everyone on the bike and pedestrian committee, as soon as the under-freeway path was proposed - was concerned about it being unsafe."

BTA will no longer be an advisor on the project, but will participate outside the process.

ODOT spokeswoman KC Cooper says the bike path will be safe, and that other committee members support it. 

Cooper says ODOT is still glad to work with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance on other project issues.