Portland Bridges Falling Down
Portland metro area bridges — which connect multiple cities in several counties and are used daily by many of the region’s 1.5 million residents — have a vital impact on our region’s transportation. And yet, from replacing the crumbling Sellwood Bridge to doubts about Multnomah County’s ability to fund bridges as well as other vital services, governance questions about bridge ownership, operation, use and funding continue to plague regional progress. City Club’s recent report, Moving Forward: A Better Way to Govern Regional Transportation, recommended that many of these issues could be resolved by bringing area bridges under the control of a single bridge authority established by Metro.
On July 30, Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury; Lynn Peterson, Chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners; and Mike Burton, Vice-Provost at PSU and former Metro Executive Officer, will discuss the best way to ensure a solid future for the region’s bridges. Led by moderator Dick Feeney, panelists will address the pros and cons of a regional bridge authority, what actions might be needed to make this recommendation a reality and what other governance alternatives should be considered.
