The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council on Tuesday approved a broad long-range plan that outlines the county’s transportation priorities during the next two decades.
The 2035 Regional Transportation Plan, in the works for more than a year, includes dozens of current and future possible projects in Clark County. The wide-ranging document touches on demographics, travel forecasts and goals, among other topics.
But it was one particular project that drew the attention of many citizens and a few RTC board members in recent weeks. Included in the plan is a $3.3 billion “I-5 Corridor improvement project” that closely resembles the failed Columbia River Crossing. The proposal calls for replacing the Interstate 5 Bridge between Vancouver and Portland, rebuilding much of the nearby freeway and connecting high-capacity transit to Vancouver.
Some board members had asked why the I-5 megaproject was still included, given the state of the defunct CRC, which shut down this year. Transportation officials have said the I-5 corridor remains a priority, but not all projects listed in the plan will necessarily be built. The I-5 corridor project was included at the request of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
On Tuesday, Clark County Commissioner David Madore said the RTC should consider additional river crossings. He and others have backed an East County Bridge that would cross the Columbia at Southeast 192nd Avenue.
That project isn’t included in the just-approved plan. But the RTC board could discuss future crossings in 2015, said Executive Director Matt Ransom. The long-range plan will likely be revisited in 2016, he said.
The latest update to the plan drew more than 170 public comments, most focusing on the I-5 corridor. On his public Facebook page, Madore encouraged people last month to speak out against the CRC and in favor of the East County Bridge. Many comments appeared to copy the template Madore offered in his post.
Madore ultimately joined the rest of the RTC board in unanimously approving the plan. The plan, which follows state and federal regulations, is updated at least every four years. The last update was in 2011.
Ransom receives raise
The board also voted unanimously to give Ransom a 4.5 percent pay raise next year. Ransom will earn a total compensation of $11,311.25 per month, or about $135,700 per year.
The RTC board hired Ransom as executive director in December 2013 to succeed Dean Lookingbill, who retired last year after 21 years leading the agency.
The vote to extend Ransom’s rolling three-year contract came after several board members praised his performance during the past year.
“Matt has done, in my opinion, an outstanding job,” said Vancouver City Councilor Jack Burkman, RTC’s board chair.
