Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2008)
Building trades unions say enough talk, build bridge now Building trades union officials are scratching their heads over a resolu- tion introduced May 27 at the regional Metro Council that, if passed, could scuttle a proposed $4.2 billion Inter- state 5 bridge project spanning the Columbia River. Councilors Carlotta Collette, Robert Liberty and Carl Hosticka co- signed a resolution that calls for charging tolls on the current bridge between Portland and Vancouver, us- ing the money to earthquake-proof the structure and to shore up on-ramps, and put off any decision on what to do with the bridge. Liberty and Collette were re- elected by wide margins in the May primary. Hosticka ran unopposed. The Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council and the Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters sup- port a proposal that includes replacing the 91-year-old bridge with a new one, and overhauling a five-mile stretch of I-5 from North Columbia Boulevard in Portland to State Route 500 in Vancouver. The new bridge would include a 12-lane highway, light rail, and lanes for bikes and pedestrians. That option is the unofficial choice of a 39-member task force that has been studying how to relieve the Inter- state Bridge traffic bottleneck. The task force — Columbia River Cross- ing (CRC) — was formed to make a recommendation to the Washington and Oregon transportation depart- ments. It is composed of leaders from public agencies, businesses, labor, civic organizations, neighborhoods and freight, commuter and environ- mental groups from Oregon and Southwest Washington. The task force has been meeting and holding public hearings regularly since early 2005. Over that time, it has The Interstate 5 Bridge between Portland and Vancouver is actually two bridges right next to each other. One carries northbound traffic and the other carries southbound, with three lanes in each direction. There is a vertical lift in the bridge to allow boat traffic to pass. boiled proposals down to five alterna- tives, including keeping the existing bridge (which is actually two bridges right next to each other) for north- bound traffic and adding a supplemen- tal bridge to carry southbound traffic; adding bus-only lanes instead of light rail, replacing the bridge, and doing nothing at all. In January, an informal straw poll indicated a majority of the task force favored a replacement bridge. So do Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire. Support is critical because before any option can move forward it must Chase is backing union members with the Union Plus ® Mortgage Program — a home purchase and refinancing program exclusively for union members, their parents and children. win approval from eight public enti- ties — the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Washington De- partment of Transportation, the South- west Washington Regional Trans- portation Council, TriMet, C-Tran, City of Portland, City of Vancouver, and Metro. That’s why the action of the three Metro councilors has upset union offi- cials and others who have worked so hard to get to this stage. “There’s no reason Metro should be opposing this new bridge. It makes no sense,” said Lynn Lehrbach, politi- cal director of Teamsters Joint Coun- SERVING UNIONS FOR OVER 25 YEARS BEAVERTON, OR (503) 644-1400 VANCOUVER, WA FISHER’S LANDING (360) 891-1999 Sarah Barber, D.D.S Charles Stirewalt, D.D.S. Chau Ngo, D.D.S. HILLSBORO, OR ORENCO STATION (503) 640-9999 • A wide variety of mortgages VANCOUVER, WA SALMON CREEK (360) 574-4574 MILWAUKIE, OR (503) 659-2525 Choose from fixed rate, adjustable-rate, and low- or no-closing costs options. Phong Bui, D.M.D. Charles Stirewalt, D.D.S. Chau Ngo, D.D.S. Stirewalt, P.C. PORTLAND, OR (503) 777-0761 SALEM, OR (503) 362-8359 • Special Lending First-time homebuyer and less-than-perfect credit programs. Protecting Union Member Smiles and Wallets. QUALITY, AFFORDABLE FAMILY DENTAL CARE Member-only savings on new purchases and refinance. It all adds up to more home-buying power. Contact your local Union Plus Mortgage Specialist General, cosmetic, and specialty care Call Bob Krueger at: 503-490-0459 Evening and Saturday appointments Most insurance and union plans accepted Easy credit and low monthly payments, O.A.C. Ask about our PAGE 4 Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. GRESHAM, OR (503) 492-8487 If you are unemployed or disabled. Union Plus is a registered trademark of Union Privilege. Eligibility for mortgage assistance begins one year after closing on a Union Plus Mortgage through Chase Home Finance. This offer may not be combined with any other promotional offer or rebate, is not transferable, and is available to bona fide members of par- ticipating unions. For down payments of less than 20%, mortgage insurance (MI) is required and MI charges ap- ply. All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Program terms and conditions are subject to change with- out notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all loan amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. ©2008 JP Morgan Chase & Co. All Rights Reserved. P-UP 104 2A-7604 WILSONVILLE, OR (503) 682-8552 GRANTS PASS, OR (541) 479-6696 • FREE Mortgage Assistance Benefit • Savings on closing costs cil No. 37. Lehrbach also sits on the TriMet board of directors. The Metro Council is a 7-member body, so the three councilors need one more vote to pass their resolution. Union officials and members are lob- bying Metro to replace the bridge. Meanwhile, on May 2, a 5,000- page federal Draft Environmental Im- pact Statement outlining the five CRC alternatives was released. The public has 60 days —until July 1 — to com- ment. A coalition of 13 organizations that oppose a replacement bridge tried to get the public comment period ex- tended an additional 60 days, but the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration de- nied the request. At a public hearing May 29 in Van- couver, John Mohlis, executive secre- tary-treasurer of the CPBCTC, reiter- ated the trades’ support of a replacement bridge. He also objected to earlier testimony suggesting that seismic upgrades to the current bridges were all that was needed. “I don’t care how much lipstick you put on those bridges, they are still draw- bridges on a major interstate highway. That’s ludicrous in this day and age,” he said. At a hearing May 30 in Portland, Carpenters Union official Joe Baron said further delays will only make the project more expensive. “Build it big, and build it now,” he said. The eight public agencies will vote sometime this summer on which alter- native they support. The CRC task force meets again on June 24. Dental Discount Program ORTHODONTICS AVAILABLE! 100 $ OFF NON COVERED DENTAL SERVICES There may be future costs based on diagnosis. Limit one per person. Not valid on diagnostic or preventative services. Not redeemable for cash or credit. Must surrender at time of service. Valid for cash, PPO, Indemnity patients only. Can't be combined, subject to change, expires 12/31/2008. 1-888-BRIGHT NOW www.BRIGHTNOW.com Smiles for Everyone! © 2007 Bright Now! Dental, Inc. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JUNE 6, 2008
