Program News

Public invited to 10 Interstate Bridge Replacement program virtual meetings and events in February

Published: Friday, January 29, 2021

All meetings are opportunities for community voices to be heard, including two-week online open house

Media contact: Kelliann Amico, Interstate Bridge Replacement media lead, 503-705-6203

Program office: 503-897-9218 (Oregon), 360-859-0494 (Washington), 888-503-6735 (toll-free)

PORTLAND –  Anyone interested in the bi-state Interstate Bridge Replacement program is invited to participate in up to 10 public meetings and events in the month of February, including a two-week online open house, interactive community input survey, four community briefings (including one in Spanish), and public meetings for the Executive Steering Group, Community Advisory Group and Equity Advisory Group.

All public meetings and events are important opportunities for members of the community to share their feedback as program work moves forward to identify a bridge replacement solution that best serves the complex needs of the wide variety of travelers. The program will work with the advisory groups and broader community to identify the transportation problems and regional perspectives on values that will be used to evaluate replacement alternatives and a preferred solution for replacing the Interstate Bridge.

“Having the community be a part of the decision-making process is tremendously important,” said Greg Johnson, Interstate Bridge Replacement program administrator. “It is vitally important to moving this program forward and having the community say ‘Yes, this is what we like, this is what we see in this program for ourselves.’”

Advisory Groups

Ongoing, extensive and inclusive public dialogue are critical to developing a bridge solution that best serves the complex needs of communities in Washington and Oregon. To support these goals the program has formed three advisory groups to provide feedback and recommendations. Group descriptions, meeting materials and instructions for joining in are available at the links below:

Executive Steering Group

  • 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17

Community Advisory Group

  • 4-6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 10
  • 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24

Equity Advisory Group

  • The time and date for the February meeting will be announced on the website.

Community Events

This introductory series of facilitated events will provide a broad overview of the program and invite input from community members, including those who could be directly affected by potential bridge replacement solutions. Participants are invited to submit questions ahead of the community briefings, and to participate in a live audience survey during those events. Full recordings of the community briefings will be available on www.interstatebridge.org.

Online open house and interactive community input survey

  • 16 - March 1

Details will be available on www.interstatebridge.org beginning Feb. 16. 

Virtual Community Briefings

  • 5:30-6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 18
  • Noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23
  • 5:30-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23 (Spanish-language only)
  • 6-7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25

Details will be available on www.interstatebridge.org beginning Feb. 18. 

All meetings and public events will be hosted virtually to follow the states’ social distancing guidelines for slowing the spread of COVID-19. Advisory group meetings will be hosted in Zoom and also be livestreamed on YouTube, and those without internet access will have the option to call in to listen to the meetings. Closed captioning will be available for all meetings on Zoom and YouTube.

Along with attending virtual meetings and events, anyone interested in the program is invited to visit the new website, www.interstatebridge.org, to learn more about opportunities to engage and provide input, sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter and program updates, or connect with the program on social media (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram).

Public input on agenda items at regular meetings of the advisory and steering groups is welcome and can be shared via email, phone or online during each full meeting:

  • Email comments to info@interstatebridge.org with a subject line that specifies “Public Comment” and which group(s) should receive the comment.
  • Call and state “Public Comment” in your message:
    • 503-897-9218 (Oregon)
    • 360-859-0494 (Washington)
    • 888-503-6735 (toll-free)

Facilitators will provide opportunities for online participants to comment during the meetings. More information will be available on the Community Engagement page of the program website. For questions regarding participation options, please contact the program office at 888-503-6735 (toll-free).

Comments received 48 hours prior to the community advisory meetings will be shared with the group members before the meetings, and all comments received prior to or at the meetings will be included in the meeting summaries.

To request an accommodation, such as materials in alternate formats, please contact the program team at info@interstatebridge.org or at any of the phone numbers listed above at least 48 hours prior to the particular meeting.

Free, temporary internet access is available throughout Washington for those who do not have broadband service. To find the nearest Drive-In WiFi Hotspot visit: www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/washington-state-drive-in-wifi-hotspots-location-finder/

A joint orientation to provide background on the program and process will be held this Saturday, Jan. 30 for members of the Community Advisory Group and Equity Advisory Group. This meeting will take place via Zoom from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and it will be livestreamed on YouTube.

 Hyperlinks within the release:

Twitter: twitter.com/IbrProgram

Facebook: www.facebook.com/InterstateBridgeReplacementProgram

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ibrprogram/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCRxkgkIcZpLpVX5or7Gz0Vg/videos?view=2&live_view=502 

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About the bi-state Interstate Bridge Replacement program

Replacing the aging Interstate Bridge across the Columbia River with a modern, seismically resilient, multimodal structure that provides improved mobility for people, goods and services is a high priority for Oregon and Washington. Governors and legislative leadership in both states directed the Oregon Department of Transportation and Washington Department of Transportation to launch the bi-state Interstate Bridge Replacement program to lead this work, recognizing that needed safety and transportation improvements to the existing Interstate Bridge remain unaddressed. Program development work will center on equity and follow a transparent, data-driven process that includes collaboration with local, state, federal, and tribal partners.

Comprehensive and equitable community engagement that minimizes barriers to involvement and proactively seeks to include communities of concern is critical to successfully identifying a bridge replacement solution that reflects community values and can earn broad regional, bi-state, and national support. The Executive Steering Group, Community Advisory Group, Equity Advisory Group and community events are key components of comprehensive community engagement efforts to ensure ongoing, extensive and inclusive public dialogue. Visit the new program website at www.interstatebridge.org.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Civil Rights Title VI accommodations in Oregon

For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations, translation/interpretation services, or more information for those in Oregon, please call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735- 2900 or Oregon Relay Service 711.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VI accommodations in Washington

Accommodation requests for people with disabilities in Washington can be made by contacting the WSDOT Diversity/ADA Affairs team at wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov or by calling toll-free, 855-362-4ADA (4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at 711. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) Title VI Coordinator by contacting (360) 705-7090.

Future notifications and information on how to unsubscribe

Future program updates will be sent directly from the Interstate Bridge Replacement program. Anyone currently signed up for Interstate Bridge Replacement notifications through the ODOT or WSDOT GovDelivery lists will be automatically subscribed to the new distribution list for future updates. To manage current subscription preferences, please visit the ODOT or WSDOT GovDelivery sites.

 

 

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