The Congressman in Charge of Transportation Fears Oregon Is Squandering Its Chance to Replace the

The Congressman in Charge of Transportation Fears Oregon Is Squandering Its Chance to Replace the Columbia River Bridge


U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) fears Oregon and Washington won’t make it on time to a bridge across the Columbia River.

Nobody is better situated to know—or to help the Pacific Northwest secure Biden Bucks to rebuild the Interstate 5 Bridge. As chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, DeFazio is in a prime position to direct funds from President Joe Biden’s proposed $621 billion in transportation funding.

If Congress passes DeFazio’s preferred spending plan—and given the mandate Biden now has to jump-start the economy, it very well might—it would fund the rebuilding of the 10 most economically significant bridges in the nation. DeFazio estimates that the Interstate 5 Bridge across the Columbia River ranks 11th, but he thinks he could nudge it into the top 10.

Just one problem, DeFazio says: Washington and Oregon lawmakers don’t have a plan for such a bridge, nor do they appear to feel any urgency to make one.

Read more: https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2021/05/12/the-congressman-in-charge-of-transportation-fears-oregon-is-squandering-its-chance-to-replace-the-columbia-river-bridge/
(Williamette Week)