Five bucks is a pretty good deal

The Clackamas Review, Oct 20, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

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We’ve heard some anger regarding the possibility that Clackamas County residents will pay a $5 fee tacked on to their vehicle registration to help fund the new Sellwood Bridge project.

The initial reaction is understandable, after all, the bridge is in Multnomah County. But before you complain too loudly, keep this in mind: five bucks is a steal.

An estimated 70 percent of the traffic on the Sellwood Bridge comes from Clackamas County. It’s a vital link used by residents throughout North Clackamas, along with those in West Linn and Lake Oswego. If it weren’t there, county residents trying to cross the Willamette wouldn’t have an option between the Ross Island Bridge and the I-205 Abernethy Bridge. The bridge has already become so degraded that Tri-Met buses and heavy trucks are banned from traversing it.

Multnomah County has worked to cobble together funding for the bridge from several sources, including state and federal funding and a bond measure. In addition, Multnomah County residents will be asked to chip in a $19-per-year vehicle registration fee, almost four times more than the fee Clackamas County residents might pay. So we provide 70 percent of the traffic, but pay only a fraction of the total cost. Maybe it’s time to accept what a good deal this is for Clackamas County. The bridge is in Multnomah County, but this is a regional project – and a great deal.

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Reader comments

fabulous deal: $5!?!

$5 is also a much better deal from the perspective that a new south crossing, a new bridge from Milwaukie to Lake O, would have really been the best way to channel this traffic to the west side. $5 reg fee increase seems better than the hundreds of millions a new bridge would cost, so that Clack Co can own and maintain one itself. Also better than a $5 bridge toll which could've also happened!

"R Davis"

(email verified)

Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 08:18 PM

Other Clackamas Co. bridges in dire shape come first

Editor,

How about keeping both articles together. For those who haven't read the Portland Tribune version of the story, here's the link:

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story_2nd.php?story_id=125623344045102500

As of my post, that article has five comments, including mine as follows:

How about fixing our own bridges here in North Urban Clackamas County. For starters is the Kellogg Creek mouth and estuary crossing along the US 99E corridor. This highway crossing dammed the entire Kellogg-Mt. Scott Creek watershed from its mouth to the wetlands of the Bowl of Happy Valley since the days of the depression (the “Super Highway”). Its never been the same since. Salmon are waiting to migrate up there. Hopefully, they haven’t lost their way since the 1850’s when Joseph Kellogg built the first mill on the creek in the little settlement of Milwaukie. Come on county/ODOT, pay your environmental impact dues, now in arrears amounting to about $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. Of course, that’s for a road builder bridge of concrete 100 feet wide (equivalent of six lanes).

It seems local agencies can find money to widen and improve other portions of the super highway and bring light rail to the southeast, why not atone for our past arrogant environmental transgressions. Salmon are our society’s life barometer here in the great northwest. We’re on our way down the slippery slope, and need to readjust our priorities quickly.

Crossing the Willamette for Clackameisters can be an inconvenience, but the two state highways (I-205 and US 26) provide adequate connectivity to most of the employment centers. Further, why would westsiders want Clackamites infiltrating their neighborhood shortcuts and backroads. Terwilliger, Taylors Ferry, Boones Ferry, Multnomah and BH Highway are already crowded and don't need encouragements from bridge widenings. We all know its one thing to create a slowpoke narrow two lane bridge to accommodate local neighborhood traffic. Its quite another when the road builders get a hold of the design reigns and funding and start talking about traffic capacity.

If I were the westsiders, I'd consider a toll on Clackamas commuters. Apply the same principle as the city of Portland applies to parking in northwest Portland by creating crossing passes for the locals who need the bridge and a toll for those who prefer the convenience.

Of course, the bigger question not being addressed by the funders is why do Clackamasonians feel a need to commute to work? Why not plan the region so that the jobs are within 3 to 5 miles of their home? Maybe the Westside Business Alliance could help.

"Pat Russell, Clackamas"

(email verified)

Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 12:13 PM

"Pat Russell, Clackamas"

(email verified)

Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 07:06 PM

Re: Five bucks is a pretty good deal

No mention of how this is on top of the state increase and the upcoming gas tax increase! What a deal......not! Quit giving money to light rail and street cars in the back of auto commuters and the asking us to pay for roads and bridges as well.