Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington’s Senator Patty Murray delivered a pointed message Wednesday. Speaking to a room full of regional leaders with the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, she said the Columbia River Crossing project is not going to happen unless consensus is reached on several key financing points.

The Columbia River Crossing, or CRC has been plagued by local bickering.

Murray laid out a series of four things she says will have to happen to facilitate a replacement for the aging I-5 bridge. She began with the most controversial aspect: a toll for bridge use.

Patty Murray  “ I know there are people who think if we just refuse to consider tolling here, the federal and state governments will come to the rescue. That is not true. It will not work that way in today’s environment.”

The bridge is an important part of the West Coast freight system.  It’s also the link between Portland, where leaders say the bridge offers a natural opportunity to extend light rail, and its northern neighbor, Vancouver, where people have expressed  reservations about taxes and mass transit.

Murray says other projects, like the Columbia River Channel deepening, prove the region can come together.

And she says accord must be reached on tolling and on a light rail component to the bridge that could open up funding from the Federal Transit Administration.

Finally, she says she’ll need help advocating in the capitol’s new fiscally conservative climate. Without a major transportation spending bill, and without earmarks designed to help with bridge, she says this critical infrastructure project is in jeopardy.

Larry Smith “I think she was candid and honest in the feedback she’s heard"

Vancouver City Councilman Larry Smith says Murray’s assessment of the project was reasonable. He’s expressed concerns in the past about whether the city’s interests were being served by the CRC process.

More recently, he’s been a supporter of moving the planning process forward – including discussions on tolls.

Larry Smith “Those are risky positions because there are folks out there who do not want to see it tolled, honestly. No one wants to see it tolled, but we want the bridge built.”

Project opponents were not happy with Murray’s comments.

Josephine Wentzel is with notolls.com, a group that advocates against replacing the bridge. She says whatever Patty Murray may say, there’s another political force in Washington, D.C. that may prevail.

Josephine Wentzel: “I think our allies are going to be the new House members.”

Later this year, voters in Clark County will decide a ballot measure on local funding for light rail.

Getting agreement on tolling will be up to the local governments collaborating on the project.