Transportation

Transportation

I strongly believe that sound transportation infrastructure is critical to the success of our city. That being said, I am also a strong proponent of a balanced and analytical approach to planning, budgeting, and expenditures for transportation projects. I’m also firm in my stance that Vancouver is not nor should it be a subsidiary, servant, or subject of Portland. We are our own unique community with our own unique needs. When it comes to major transportation projects that require any type of financial burden on the city, taxpayers, or business community, I will always advocate for a public vote first.

●       Light Rail – I am not in favor of light rail because it has proven to be a structure for debt.  We need to focus on transportation that is sustainable, but also flexible for the majority, not the few.  Additionally it will never be able to take people exactly to where they want to be.  We have plenty of parking and plenty of space for roads and bridges.  I like my American dream of owning a home, having a car, and a lawn for the children to play. Light rail would never in 100 years be available for convenient access to me or my family or my neighbors.  The voters have said it, no light rail at this time.  Take it to the trainstation If thre is the necessity, they are forecasting high-speed rail from Seattle to Eugene.  A recent Vancouver City Council approved land swap has details of expansion.

●       Tolls – NO plain and simple.  If the state would quit using gas taxes for items not included in roads and bridge maintenance this would not be an issue worthy of discussion.

●       CRC – Here is something I am completely dumbfounded on.  170 Million dollars were spent and there is not one 3D scale model rendition to give anyone a real visual of appeal and vote on. Everyone wants a bridge, why could there not of been options to choose from?  The CRC board suggested the LPA could not be changed and still qualify for Federal money.  That seems unreasonable and is not factual. What will it look like coming into I-5.  Also, What happens at Delta Park, non-one has suggested any improvements to that section of Oregon I-5.  I strongly believe we need to use the same principles Power and Gas Utilities use when they need to grow and create more access, They create diverse routes and spread the traffic away from congestion, not force more right down the middle.  Vancouver must have a bridge to Hwy 30 as an option to by pass Portland and on to Beaverton.  A scenic route today through the under utilized industrial districts.

●       CTRAN – There are many boards that council members sit on in the process of serving the city. This board is just one of them but an integral one which has a direct impact on the long range plans for the economy, housing and mass transit needs of our community. This board has allowed our city council to vote as a block veto group of three voting to stop and overturn the votes of the entire C-Tran district board, which impacts our whole county. I believe that the city of Vancouver needs to have a strong position for the issues on this board but I do not believe that the council should be able to override the entire county’s ability to equally voice their control over their services and community as well. Under this system how Vancouver votes so goes the health and vitality of the entire county. The best option we have to solve the absolute disaster that the power hold of the city has on our ability to thrive is to replace our council members who insist on abusing their power.

   

●       RTC - The regional transportation council has the responsibility to provide and plan for future needs with regards to freight and commuters. It is their job to work with the different boards and assess the long range plans for our roads, highways and bridges based on development. This group consists of persons who work for Oregon’s Metro Service District, Tri-Met, and more. Our local development has been under the control of Director Dean Lookingbill who handed the lead role for long range development plans over to Oregon’s Metro last year in a “memorandum of understanding” or in other words a contract of “Interlocal Governmental Agreement”.  Our very choices on where housing is built and what kind of housing it is as well as parks, roads, business and economic development are being controlled by an agency we do not elect nor have any authority over. As a city council person I would work to make sure that all “IGA’s” or MOU’S would be approved by the local elected officials before any such authority is handed off to some entity in another state.