Public Concerns Arise Over Tolling for Interstate Bridge Linking Washington and Oregon

The Center Square – On Tuesday, the Joint Transportation Commissions of Washington State and Oregon gathered in Vancouver, Washington, to discuss and approve toll recommendations for the forthcoming Interstate Bridge Replacement project, which will link the two states.

Originally known as the Columbia River Crossing project, this initiative began in 2004 but was put on hold in 2014 due to a lack of regional agreement. In 2019, state leaders revived the plan, forming a joint commission with transportation officials from both Oregon and Washington.

We recently achieved a significant milestone when we published the draft environmental impact statement EIS just 11 days ago, said Frank Green, assistant program administrator for the IBR program. We’re encouraging public feedback on the EIS.

The draft EIS outlines potential impacts on property and property rights, indicating that up to 76 homes and 39 businesses may need to be removed in an area exceeding 36 acres, depending on the final design chosen.

The commission will host public meetings regarding the draft EIS and will accept comments until mid-November. “We expect to have a final supplemental EIS by mid to late 2025,” Green added, with construction potentially starting as early as late 2025.

Before discussing tolling options, the commission opened the floor to public comments.

Debra Kelz, a Vancouver resident since 1971, expressed her concerns about the prospect of tolls affecting her access to medical care in Oregon. “I’m very worried about having to pay tolls to get my medical treatment, she said.

Another resident, Paul Edgar, voiced his opposition to including light rail in the bridge project, arguing it would inflate costs significantly. Adding light rail will add $3 billion to the overall cost, he stated. While WSDOT [Washington State Department of Transportation] and ODOT [Oregon Department of Transportation] will cover some costs, a large part will be funded through tolls. Without a public vote on subsidizing light rail, this proposal should be reconsidered.”

Dean Suhr, representing an Oregon group, is working to qualify a ballot measure requiring public votes before tolling decisions are made for the bridge. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability and expressed his intention to gather signatures again in 2026, after failing this year.

Suhr highlighted the project’s escalating costs, noting, The initial budget in 2020 was $4.8 billion, which increased to $6.5 billion last December, and now estimates suggest it could reach around $9 billion by 2025. He urged the commission to allow broader participation in discussions about the project.

Ed Barry, from the bi-state tolling subcommittee, provided updates on potential tolling scenarios prior to the commission’s vote. One discussion point included possible toll exemptions or discounts for members of ten federally recognized tribes in the region. Washington already offers some tolling exemptions for tribes like the Nez Perce and Yakama Nation.

After extensive discussion, the commission voted in favor of further exploring the Level 3 tolling scenario. Proposed toll rates could range from $1.55 to $3.20 per trip, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions, with higher rates reaching $2 to $4.70.

The bi-state tolling subcommittee indicated that they aim to generate between $1.24 billion and $1.6 billion in capital funding through toll revenue. The plan includes charging large trucks up to four times the toll amount for regular drivers and providing 50% discounts for low-income drivers. Toll rates are expected to increase by at least 2% annually and will be implemented before the bridge is completed, starting in the spring of 2026.