That seems to be a prevalent attitude in Vancouver, WA. - at least when it came to discussing the cutely-named "Columbia River Crossing". In real terms, the discussion last night was supposed to be about replacing the I-5 bridges. A few years ago, it might have been called just that. But today, bureaucrats have to have cute names for everything, so it wasn't a discussion about replacing the bridges - no, it was a discussion about the "Columbia River Crossing". And what transpired during this event was completely unexpected: folks who've lived in the area for many years don't want choo-choos and ancillary items from Portland invading their space.
They were supposed to do a happy dance and embrace the preferred concept of bridge-with-choo-choo. And some Vancouver residents do. One happy guy spoke of living in Washington D.C. without a car, and how wonderful rail is. The prevailing attitude seemed to be that he should move right on back to the east coast.
Many expressed outrage at a political process that they said seems to have favored light rail from the start.
"A lot of our people are getting the feeling that this is being shoved down our throat," said Stephanie Turlay of Vancouver. "We have been told by our mayor, 'no light rail, no bridge,' and that's a threat."
Others were concerned about increased taxation and other crime:
"The line ought to be drawn at the river because I do fear the crime that Portland is experiencing with the system, as well as increased taxes," said Robert Ross, who moved to Vancouver from Portland five years ago. "This will give Portland and TriMet government a toehold. I fear it will just expand from that beginning."
They have a great point; if they wanted to live in Portland, they'd move to Portland. The fact that people are increasingly choosing to move to Clark County from Portland is indicative of serious dissatisfaction with Portland and what it fails to offer.
Vancouver residents are completely justified in their belief that they're being taken for a really expensive ride, because the bridge replacement has always been about rail and bicycle and pedestrian paths, rather than about increasing vehicular capacity and freight transport.
