The action adds a critical piece to the project’s funding plan. Another piece of the funding puzzle may fall into place next month. The City of Portland is expected to approve an agreement to fund up to $100 million of the project. With these local funding contributions, the project’s funding shortfall will be reduced to $40 million. Multnomah County has a $40 million request in to the federal government, which would be the final piece of the funding plan.
Traffic studies show the Sellwood Bridge is heavily used by Clackamas County residents. Seventy-two percent of trips across the bridge begin or end in Clackamas County. The bridge lies less than a mile from Clackamas County, which has few other river crossings.
Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury thanked Clackamas County Board Chair Lynn Peterson and her board for their critical support. “Clackamas County has been an active partner in this project since it began in 2006. Your elected leaders, staff and citizens have been at the table as alternatives were developed and we settled on a solution. By adopting this fee, you have taken a major step toward resolving this critical transportation need for the citizens of our two counties.”
Read more on the Clackamas County
ordinance and the board’s resolution establishing the fee.
