Differences of opinion accommodated
by same-day transportation open houses

The I-5 Columbia River Crossing Project is holding an open house Monday, Feb. 5, in the Washington State Department of Transportation’s southwest headquarters, 11018 NE 51st Circle. So, too, are proponents of a third interstate bridge, in the Jantzen Beach Yacht Club, 12050 N. Jantzen Beach Drive on Hayden Island.

The Columbia River Crossing Project, a $50 million official study being conducted on behalf of highway interests in both Washington and Oregon, is focused on modifying I-5 between Highway 500 in Vancouver and Columbia Boulevard in Portland and on replacing the twin interstate bridges that connect Washington with Oregon in that corridor.

The conflicting group, for want of a better name, could be called www.newinterstatebridge.com, because that is the ad hoc group’s website address. It is led by North Portlander Sharon Nasset, a long-time advocate of a third interstate bridge across the Columbia River.

Nasset’s plan calls for a third bridge alongside of Burlington Northern Santa Fe right-of-way that would replace the railroad bridge that crosses the Columbia River west of the existing interstate bridges. This bridge could, be designed to serve as a light-rail link to Vancouver as well as a highway traffic link designed to by-pass I-5 to the east.

There are problems with both plans. Redone as a multi-modal structure, high enough to permit river traffic to pass under a replacement bridge, means a complete re-alignment of interchanges through the core of downtown Vancouver that could have negative impacts on the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.

Vancouver’s Mayor Royce Pollard is calling for some kind of cover over the freeway, at least in part of downtown.

The plan advocated by Nasset’s group calls for northern connections with Mill Plain and Fourth Plain Boulevards in west Vancouver that serve the Port of Vancouver. The corridor that would be created also calls for a southern connection with Highway 30 in Oregon south of Swan Island. Neither end is particularly well-suited to high-volume interstate traffic.

Even though the Columbia Crossing Project represents the horse to bet on now, don’t count out the folks who advocate a third Columbia River span first. All three Clark County commissioners have expressed themselves in favor of a third bridge proposal.

The Columbia River Crossing Project open house is from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. next Monday. The Citizen Transportation Summit, sponsored by Nasset’s group, is holding its open house from 2 to 8 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.

For those wanting to hear more, they may attend the 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, meeting of the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council in the commissioners’ hearing room in the Public Service Center. Discussions of the Columbia River Crossing Project will come up at least twice on that agenda.

Rekah Strong named county’s
workplace diversity coordinator

Rekah Strong has been named workforce diversity coordinator, a new position in the Clark County Human Resources Department. Strong will be the primary staff person coordinating the county’s equal employment and new diversity programs.

County commissioners last December created a diversity policy, committed to increasing the ethnic, cultural and social diversity of its workforce.

Strong is a graduate of Portland State University and holds a masters degree in social work from that university. Most recently she has been a manager of diversity for the Oregon Department of Human Services, coordinating efforts in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties.

News briefs

The seventh annual Home Ownership Center’s “Home Is Where the Heart Is” breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, in the Hilton Vancouver Washington. Keynote speaker is Doris W. Koo, president and CEO of Enterprise Community Partners. Coffee will be served at 6:45 a.m. Tickets for the event, sponsored by Washington Mutual, are $50. For further information, call 690-4496, extension 103. n The Hough Foundation’s second annual Mardi Gras Ball, featuring chanteuse Linda Hornbuckle, is at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Red Lion

Inn at the Quay. Tickets for the dinner, concert, a short auction and dancing are $75 each. For reservations, call 905-0151. n The Southwest Washington Independent Forward Thrust 2007 gala, “It’s a Red Carpet Affair!” presented by the Bank of Clark County, is at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in the Hilton Vancouver Washington. Tickets are $150. Tables for ten can be reserved for $1,500. For further information, call 619-4498.

Calendar

The First Thursday presentation at the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, features Darrell Millner, Portland State University and editorial board member of the Oregon Historical Society, discussing “Testing the Need for Black History” at 7 p.m. this evening. There is no charge. n Arts Equity Onstage presents Hot ’N’ Throbbing at 7:30 p.m. this evening and Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2 and 3, in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street. For further information, call 695-3770.

Thursday, Feb. 1 headlines

Vancouver Marine killed in action in Iraq--Columbian, Dean Baker

Port commissioners to discuss sale of Quay property--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Nautilus intends to acquire its largest contract manufacturer in China--Vancouver Business Journal

Knight: Clark College had much to celebrate in '06--Columbian, Howard Buck

County commissioners consider surcharge as a way of paying for infrastructure for new construction--Columbian, Michael Andersen

Democrats in the legislature prepare offensive for education--Columbian, Kathis Durbin

Vancouver's Kris Stadelman named president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council--Vancouver Business Journal, Megan Patrick

One in six students in Oregon is Latino--Oregonian, Steve Carter

Oregon tax plan in legislature hinges on a 5-cent sales tax--Oregonian, Betsy Hammond

Hand sanitizers are 140 proof!--Seattle P-I, AP

At least 100 die in Iraq attacks--USA TODAY, AP

Exxon Mobile pockets record $39.5 billion, Washington Post, Howard Schneider