1. A Bi-State Project: Lessons Learned
Bruce Warner, Director
Oregon Department of Transportation

2. I-5 Corridor Columbia River Crossings at Portland-Vancouver
WASHINGTON
BNSF Rail Bridge
I-5 Bridge
Vancouver
Port of Vancouver
Port of Portland
I-205 Bridge
Portland International Airport
Portland
OREGON

3. Photo: Port of Portland
Duration of Morning and Evening Peak-Period Traffic on the I-5/Columbia River Bridge and Approaches in 2000 and 2020 12 6 1 7 8 2 3 9 10 4 5 11
A.M.
P.M.
Year 2000
Year 2020
Photo: Port of Portland

4. Freight Rail Congestion Comparisons (over 96 hour period)
1542 38
Passenger Trains
1977
555
Freight Trains
20.0%
813.0 hrs
12.5 mph
Chicago
18.2%
Delay Ratio
402.0 hrs
Hours of Delay
12.3 mph
Average Speed
Portland/
Vancouver
Measure

5. Phase 1 Committee Charge
What is the Magnitude of the Problem in the Corridor?
What Is the Cost of Inaction?
What Improvements are Needed?
How Can the Improvements Be Funded?
What are the Next Steps? 5

6. Phase 1 Findings Doing nothing in the I-5 Corridor is unacceptable.
There must be a multi-modal solution in the I-5 Corridor -- there is no silver bullet.
Transportation funds are limited. Paying for improvements in the Corridor will require new funds.
The region must consider measures that promote transportation-efficient development.
balance of housing and jobs
better traffic management
Region needs to develop strategic plan for the Corridor.

7. Governors’ Task Force Community Forum General Public
Approximately members
Cross-section of Community
Meets six times at major milestones and
additionally as needed.
Neighborhoods, Businesses, Interest Groups
General Public
Governors’ Task Force
28 member committee of representatives from Washington and Oregon.
Members are from private business, community groups,
environmental groups, and the public sector.
State and Regional Decision-making Bodies:
Bi-State Committee
Metro and the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council
Oregon and Washington Transportation Commissions

8. Involvement of the Community
Task Force membership
Community Forum
Design workshops
Public input at milestones
Environmental justice stakeholder meetings
Public comment at meetings

9. I-5 Partnership Public Outreach Activities
Mailings (up to 45,000 people)
Canvassing
7 rounds of open houses/public meetings
Visits with neighborhood, business and other groups
Website -- information and surveys (over 4,500 primary computers have accessed the site over 330,000 times)
News features & Advertisements -- billboard, media
Information sites -- libraries, coffee shops, etc.

12. Regional Economic Effects of the I-5 Corridor/Columbia River Crossing Transportation Choke Points
prepared for
Oregon Department of Transportation
presented by
Lance R. Grenzeback
Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
May 2003 2 3 1 3

13. Hampton Roads/ Chesapeake Bay
Comparison of River Crossings in Selected U.S. Metropolitan Areas of Similar Size 3 10
Missouri River
1.78 million
Kansas City
>30
Three Rivers
2.36 million
Pittsburgh 4
Hampton Roads/ Chesapeake Bay
1.57 million
Norfolk 2 8
Mississippi River
2.60 million
St. Louis 1
Columbia River
1.92 million
Portland-Vancouver 7
Ohio River
1.65 million
Cincinnati
Rail Xings
Hwy Xings
Body of Water
Population
Metro Area

14. Freight Impacts
Congestion will spread into the midday period, which is the peak-travel period for trucks
Annual vehicle hours of delay on truck routes in the I-5 corridor will increase by 93 percent from 13,400 hours in 2000 to 25,800 hours by 2020
Congested lane-miles on truck routes will increase by 58 percent, and
The cost of truck delay will increase by 140 percent to nearly $34 million

15. National Freight Flows for Goods with Origins or Destinations in Oregon or Washington
Source: Cambridge Systematics based on Reebie Associates TRANSEARCH data, 1998

16. Oregon-Washington Origins and Destinations for Truck Freight Crossing the I-5 and I-205 Bridges at Portland-Vancouver With Tonnage of Freight on Truck Routes Used to Access Bridge
Note: Commodities shipped to or from British Columbia are assigned to Whatcom County
Origins and Destinations of Truck Freight Crossing I-5 and I-205 Columbia River Bridges, 1998, All Commodities 10
0.05
0.25
1.0
2.5
(million tons)
0.25
0.75
2.5
5.0
33.0
(million tons)
Volume of Truck Freight on Routes Used to Access I-5 and I-205 Columbia River Bridges, 1998, All Commodities
Congestion in the Portland-Vancouver area is not just a local problem; it is a regional problem.
Congestion at the I-5/Columbia River highway crossing affects truck traffic throughout Oregon and Washington, but especially within the I-5 corridor.
The map shows Oregon and Washington counties and highways affected by congestion at the Columbia River highway crossings.
The figure shows the counties (in gray scale) that ship or receive truck freight using the crossings; the darker gray the county, the more tonnage is shipped or received from that county.
The figure also shows the highways (in color) that trucks use to move to and from these counties; the wider and redder the bandwidth of the highway line, the greater the truck tonnage carried on the highway.
Source: Cambridge Systematics based on Reebie Associates TRANSEARCH data, 1998

17. Oregon-Washington Origins and Destinations for Rail Freight Using the Portland-Vancouver Rail Triangle With Tonnage of Freight on Rail Lines Used to Access Triangle
Note: Commodities shipped to or from British Columbia are assigned to Whatcom County
Origins and Destinations of Rail Freight Shipped via Portland-Vancouver Rail Triangle, 1998, All Commodities 10
0.05
0.25
1.0
2.5
(million tons)
Volume of Freight on Portland-Vancouver Rail Triangle Access Routes, 1998, All Commodities
Congestion at the rail crossing also has a major impact on Oregon and Washington State rail shippers.
Again, the figure shows the counties (in gray scale) that ship or receive rail freight that moves into, out of, or through the congested Portland-Vancouver rail triangle; the darker gray the county, the more tonnage is shipped or received from that county.
Rail congestion at Portland-Vancouver has a major impact on Puget Sound shippers, Washington State’s Columbia River ports, and the Portland-Vancouver area.
The congestion affects shipments of grain, lumber, and minerals moving west by rail from Montana, Idaho, eastern Washington, and central and eastern Oregon for export through the ports.
0.25
0.75
2.5
5.0
33.0
(million tons)
Source: Cambridge Systematics based on Reebie Associates TRANSEARCH data, 1998

18. Lessons Learned Limit project scope to I-5 Corridor.
Do not force a solution.
Be patient and be prepared to spend money.
Work hard to keep all interests/stakeholders at the table.
Be multi-modal.
Focus on the economics.
Ensure equal 50/50 participation by both states.
Be sensitive in dealing with bigger partner/smaller partner.