By: Editorial Board
The Oregonian
January 27, 2008
Original editorial
Replacing the Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River will take a toll on bridge users.
Literally.
Oregonians and Washingtonians who loathe tolls, and most of us do, had better get used to the idea. That is, if we want to see this critical lifeline for freight -- and our economy -- open and flowing smoothly by 2017.
It's obvious that both federal and state funds will be needed to build this $4.2 billion project, which also involves renovation of six highway interchanges. But planners estimated last week that a toll collected retroactively could supply roughly a third of the project's cost.
Let's be candid, though. This is not just about paying for construction. If it were, then it might make sense to retire the toll when the cost is paid off. But a toll is needed not only to build the project we have taken to calling the Emerald Gate, but also to maintain it, lengthen its life and expand its capacity.
A tiered toll could help do that, one that charges rush-hour commuters more because they add more to congestion. As The Oregonian's Dylan Rivera reported last week, the 39-member Columbia River Crossing task force has been studying tolls of roughly $5 (or about $2.50 one way) for rush-hour commuters. Tolls could be half that for off-peak travelers.
Structuring the toll to reward off-peak travel and discourage peak use would steer more people to carpools and transit. And that is vital. As more and more Clark County residents now recognize, the new bridge must be equipped with light rail. That way, it will plug into the tremendous investment that the region already has made in light rail on the Portland side.
It would make no sense for Vancouver residents to start across the bridge on buses and then switch to trains. Spurring people to use light rail will benefit the environment, but it will also boost the economy. It will free up more Interstate 5 lanes for truck travel. Unlike car drivers, truck drivers cannot switch to other alternatives.
Exactly what toll structure would make sense as of 2017 is impossible to say, of course, or what the latest in electronic toll technology will be by then. But one thing is sure: This will not be your grandma and grandpa's toll bridge. It won't be a crossing like the Bridge of the Gods, where you slow down and fumble for your coins. Toll booths on the new I-5 bridge will be so phantom you won't see them either coming or going.
You will likely have the option of paying the toll electronically with a transponder fitted in your car, or paying with a credit card via cell phone or during the next 24 hours after you cross. If you fail to pay, cameras would record your car's license and you'd be assessed after the fact. The toll would then be compounded with a penalty.
Tolls will not only help pay for the bridge but also ensure it's worth paying for by maximizing the congestion relief it provides.
