Portland / Vancouver I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership
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Problem, Vision and Values Statement

Introduction

The I-5 Partnership brings together Washington and Oregon citizens and leaders to respond to concerns about growing congestion on I-5. Governors Gary Locke and John Kitzhaber have appointed a bi-state Task Force of community, business and elected representatives to develop a strategic plan for the I-5 corridor between I-84 in Oregon and I-205 in Washington. The strategic plan will address the needs of the highway, transit, and heavy rail systems in the I-5 corridor and is anticipated to recommend a combination of actions for the corridor including transportation and land use policy changes, incentives, and physical improvements.

To ensure comprehensive response to the needs of the community, the Task Force will actively engage the public. To this end, a "Community Forum" with representatives of a wide range of neighborhood, business, civic, and environmental interests has been assembled. The I-5 Partnership process has been designed to be inclusive, thoughtful, and supportive of neighborhood, local, regional and state interests. The principles of environmental justice will be followed in developing the strategic plan and making recommendations for the corridor.

Problem Statement

The Interstate 5 corridor is the most critical segment of the regional transportation system in the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. The corridor provides access to many of the region's most important industrial sites and port facilities, and is a link to jobs throughout the Portland/Vancouver region. Due to infrastructure deficiencies, lack of multi-modal options, land use patterns, and increasing congestion, businesses and individuals experience more frequent and longer delays in the corridor. Without attention, the corridor's problems are likely to increase significantly, further impacting the mobility, accessibility, livability and economic promise of the entire region. Action is needed now to develop a plan and implement appropriate solutions.

Vision and Values for the Corridor

The goal of the I-5 Partnership Task Force is to create a multi-faceted, integrated plan of transportation policies, capital expenditures, personal and business actions, and incentives to address the future needs of the I-5 corridor

The plan will improve our quality of life:

  • Providing travel mobility, safety, reliability, accessibility and choice of transportation modes for users whether public, private, or commercial and recognizing the varied requirements of local, intra-corridor, and interstate movement;
  • Supporting a sound regional economy by addressing the need to move freight efficiently, reliably, and safely through the corridor;
  • Supporting a healthy and vibrant land use mix of residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, cultural and historical areas;
  • Respecting and protecting natural resources including air quality, wildlife habitat and water resources;
  • Supporting balanced achievement of community, neighborhood, and regional goals for growth management, livability, the environment, and a healthy economy with promise for all; and
  • Distributing fairly the associated benefits and impacts for the region and the neighborhoods adjacent to or affected by the Corridor.

The result will protect our future with an improved and equitable balance of: livability, mobility, access, public health, environmental stewardship, economic vitality and environmental justice.