Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Light Rail topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges Washougal council to support bringing light rail across Columbia River
Summary
A member of the public urged the Washougal City Council to support efforts to extend light rail across the river, warning that opposing the project risks losing funding and limiting future transit options.
A Washougal resident urged the City Council during the Feb. 24 workshop public‑comment period to support bringing light rail across the Columbia River to connect Washougal and other southwest Washington communities to the Portland metropolitan transit network.
William Carter, who identified himself as a longtime resident and described himself as part of “the older demographic,” said Washougal and neighboring cities are economically tied to Portland and that regional mass transit would be necessary to accommodate future growth. “If we don't bring the light rail across, no one will have an alternative but to use a car or maybe a bus, which also gets stuck in traffic,” Carter said. He warned that opposition could jeopardize funding for the project and asked the council to “seize this opportunity of bringing the light rail to this part of the Portland Metropolitan Area.”
Carter said the I‑5 bridge project funding, from what he understood, is “predicated on promoting mass transit,” and that an isolationist stance could cause the region to lose financial support. He acknowledged potential costs and tax implications but said the city should engage in negotiations and planning rather than reject the idea.
The council did not take action on the subject during the workshop; staff noted there will be additional public‑comment opportunities at the regular council meeting later that evening.
