Transportation Secretary LaHood to Lobby for CRC in Olympia

Proposed Columbia River Crossing

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will stump for the Columbia River Crossing tomorrow in Olympia.

With $450 million for the CRC approved in Oregon, officials are now throwing all their energy—and D.C. bureaucrats—behind pushing the beleaguered project through Washington's House (where it's a slam dunk with Democrats) and its Senate (where Republicans promise to stop it).

Washington must also put in its ante this session—Oregon's bill giving the CRC funding contains triggers that say Washington and the federal government must also approve money before Oregon will open its coffers.

The CRC is a $3.4 billion megaproject to widen Interstate 5, replace the bridges between Oregon and Washington and run a MAX line to downtown Vancouver.

LaHood—the outgoing Obama cabinet member who has long been a vocal CRC supporter–will meet with Gov. Jay Inslee at 10:15 am. There's press availability after that, his public calendar shows.



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