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

[TexasTowelie]

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)