Press Release

Vancouver, Washington -- Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council Board of Directors, in its role as Metropolitan Planning Organization for Clark County, is issuing a formal notice of its intent to take action on the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Columbia River Crossing project at its July 22 Board meeting. A concurrent action will be to amend the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for Clark County to include the LPA decision.

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan is a part of the required federal and state transportation planning process. The Plan represents the collective strategy for maintaining and developing the regional transportation system. The I-5 Columbia River Crossing project is a bridge, transit and highway improvement project with project area extending from SR-500 in Vancouver, Washington to Columbia Boulevard in Portland, Oregon. The multimodal project focuses on improving safety, reducing congestion, and increasing mobility. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the CRC was issued for public review and comment on May 2, 2008. The Columbia River Crossing project�s Locally Preferred Alternative will be defined following public comment, an advisory vote by the Columbia River Crossing Task Force on June 24 and individual discussion and action by the eight sponsoring agencies. The Columbia River Crossing project�s Locally Preferred Alternative will include a river crossing decision, a High Capacity Transit mode decision, and HCT terminus decision.

The following list of RTC sponsored meetings are opportunities for public information and comment to RTC on the Locally Preferred Alternative and Metropolitan Transportation Plan amendment:

• June 23, East County Cities LPA Informational Meeting: A public meeting will be held to receive comment on the proposed MTP amendment to incorporate the CRC�s LPA. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Camas Police Department, 2100 NE 3rd Avenue, Camas.
  
  
• June 26, North County Cities LPA Informational Meeting: A public meeting will be held to receive comment on the proposed MTP amendment to incorporate the CRC�s LPA. The meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Battle Ground City Hall, 109 SW 1st Street, Suite 221, Battle Ground.
  
  
• July 9, Public Comment Meeting: A public meeting will be held to receive comment on the proposed MTP amendment to incorporate the CRC�s LPA. The public comment meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Vancouver City Hall, 210 E. 13th Street, Vancouver.
  
  
• July 22, RTC Board Meeting: It is anticipated the RTC Board will take action on the CRC�s Locally Preferred Alternative and amend the MTP to incorporate the CRC�s LPA. The RTC Board meets at 4 p.m. in the Public Service Center, 6th floor Hearing Room, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver.

You can contact RTC for more information or to send comments as indicated below.

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