"Oh, so we can't move freight on transit."

You mean you didn't know?

"So why are most of the transportation dollars spent on those projects?"

If by most you mean "most", you are wrong.

"You want examples?"

Sure. Fire away.

"500 Million for Interstate MAX but not enough money to widen I-5 to 8 lanes."

You're exaggerating by over $150 million for Interstate Max. Nice way to start.

Take a good look at all of the overpasses on I-5 between the Marquam Bridge and the Columbia. Take a good look at the approaches to the Fremont bridge. Most would have to be relocated and reconstructed to widen I-5. Widening I-5, even if there is the political will to do so, would cost billions.

Note that where there is some room to widen I-5, it _is_ being proposed by planners already... look at most of the options remaining before the Columbia River Crossing task force.

"1.?? Billon for Westside MAX but 60 Million every 2 years to widen 26 to 6 lanes."

$963 million in 1998 dollars.

"300+ for "commuter rail" to be built within 5 years but 80 years to widen 217."

$117.3 million. You're only off by a factor of 2.5.

Where does your "80 years" figure come from?

"I wonder how much the new Clacakamas county rail will cost?"

Well, you could do what I did for these other projects and just Google a bit to get their budgets. It's not like the budgets are a big secret, being publised on agency web pages and all that... By the way, it's spelled "Clackamas."

"I wonder what road projects will be put off to fund them?"

That's a good question. The first good question you've posed. We do know that certain federal matching funds (which are used in all of the transit projects you have mentioned, at least 50% of the cost) are ONLY available for transit. If the project's aren't built, the money goes to some other region's transit projects. Now, you may disagree with the way the feds allocate transportation dollars, and if so you should contact your congressperson and senator.

- Bob R.