A Community Approach
Elevating the voices of our communities
Check out the Calendar for opportunities to learn about the Interstate Bridge replacement and speak with us! We would love to hear from you - and your feedback will be used to help shape the program. From this page, you can also navigate to previous meetings to view the meeting and materials.
Mini Grant Application for Community-Based Organizations
The grant application period for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) is now closed. A decision of awards will be announced no later than September 25, 2023. For more information, please contact: Salomé Chimuku.
IBR Office Hours
Do you have questions and want to speak to a real person? Join us for IBR office hours, in person or virtually, and get your questions answered!
Please make a 30-minute reservation at least 24 hours in advance. There are 3 ways you can make a reservation:
Visit: SignUpGenius
Email: info@interstatebridge.org
Call: 888-503-673
Please provide your contact information. We will confirm your appointment and provide meeting details upon confirmation.
See you there!
Joins us for an event this summer !
The IBR program is excited to be participating in community events throughout the Portland and Vancouver area this summer. Check out the IBR Meeting & Events Calendar for opportunities to stop by, speak with program staff, receive information, and stay engaged.
Neighborhood Forums
Neighborhood Forums in Vancouver and Portland provided an opportunity to meet with community members to answer questions and collect feedback. Property and business owners, local residents, and community partners were some of the many forum participants. We appreciate everyone who took time to come meet us and learn more about the program.
Accountability Dashboard
For more information regarding our outreach efforts, view our Accountability Dashboard. The IBR Accountability Dashboard is a transparency tool designed to share engagement metrics and hold the program accountable to the public. Ongoing and inclusive community engagement is critical to identify a solution that balances differing regional perspectives and best serves the complex needs of the variety of users.
Bridge Stories
Meet Sam | "It's a cultural connection for me, it's a lifeline and it's a way of getting great jobs. It's really a metropolis and the bridge provides that link for all of us." Watch his bridge story below and click here to view others.
Equity-focused engagement
The IBR program is committed to centering equity throughout our process as well as our outcomes. Centering equity means elevating the voices of equity priority communities throughout our processes and ensuring that these communities can realize the program’s economic and transportation benefits. It also means not furthering continued harm to these communities.
A key piece of this effort is the establishment of an Equity Advisory Group in tandem with a Community Advisory Group and Executive Steering Group. The Equity Advisory Group makes recommendations directly to the Program Administrator. Beyond the Equity Advisory Group, the program team and leadership are committed to applying an equity lens in all community engagement activities. This will help us better understand the potential distribution of benefits and burdens, identify ways to address inequities and elevate the voices of those who have historically been excluded from major public projects.
Our commitment to inclusive engagement
Our community engagement efforts seek to provide extensive, inclusive and ongoing opportunities for meaningful two-way communication with stakeholders that prioritizes:
The key goals of community engagement efforts include:
- Seek feedback from a diverse range of stakeholders
- Include equity priority communities
- Embrace innovation
- Uplift all voices
- Demonstrate accountability through transparency and feedback
- Achieve trust among partner agencies and the community
The program is planning numerous activities throughout 2023 to seek public feedback and engage the public in a variety of ways. Please visit this site often for updates and connect with us using the following options.
Sign up for the IBR Program mailing list to receive periodic communications about the program via email.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Attend an Equity Advisory Group, Community Advisory Group, Executive Steering Group, or Bi-State Legislative meeting; all meetings are open to the public. Meeting dates and times, materials and participation information are posted in the events calendar.
Submit comments via the online comment form, email, or call the program office.
Notices
Online Meetings
We are committed to maintaining accessibility and transparency for all virtual engagement and public meetings. We are aware of the technological barriers that virtual engagement may have on local communities, especially to equity priority communities. We will be culturally responsive and intentional about addressing barriers to engagement by using a racial equity lens, implementing virtual best practices, and being responsive to the guidance from local community-based organizations, community leaders and program partners.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Accommodation requests for people with disabilities can be made by contacting:
- Oregon: Call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735-2900
- Washington: Email wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov or call 855-362-4ADA (4232)
- Relay Service: Call 7-1-1
Title VI
It is the IBR program’s policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its programs and activities. For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact info@interstatebridge.org or 360-905-1560.
2021 Engagement
Thank you to everyone who participated in our online open house, community survey, virtual briefings, listening sessions, and other outreach avenues in 2021. The interest and feedback are truly outstanding. We heard that this community wants the transportation problems with the Interstate Bridge addressed, and that you want to be involved in the process! Below is a summary of these outreach efforts.
Year in Review Video Community Engagement Report
We need your help.
Join us in our effort to replace the Interstate Bridge. Your feedback is important in shaping a solution.
Submit a comment Share your story Attend a meeting
Engage with us!