We must not allow the implementation of a toll to pay for the bridge. A toll is a tax on the poor. The automated collection of a toll will be used by our government to track and restrict our movements.
The I5 bridge over the Columbia river is the critical transportation path for goods, services, and people on the West Coast. The existing bridge is worn out an in desperate need of replacement. It has been obvious that the bridge is in need of replacement for years but the process has been obstructed by special interests for a long time.
The cost of the bridge should be borne by the the governing agencies involved. We must not let our government become the troll under the bridge. The state and regional portions should be covered by the sale of long term bonds. The federal government will, as usual, fire up the presses and print up its contribution. If the connecting cities feel it is necessary to inclue light rail and or other special features they should come up money to pay for their desired features.
Setting up another tax source for our insatiable government would be a CRIME!
Unbelievably it is assumed that there will be light rail on the bridge!We have spent tens of millions of dollars studying the issue and have turned it into a 3.6 Billion dollar project. Existing proposals include light rail and pedestrian pathways. Check out the slick web site columbiarivercrossing.org sponsored by ODOT and WSDOT at for all the latest.