What is Your Favorite Bridge Benefit?

We believe the Salem River crossing project best serves Salem by creating an alternate route across the Willamette River for commuters, commerce, and freight.  We agree that a bridge which connects the Salem Parkway on the east side of the river with Highway 22 on the west side of the river to be the most practical for long term viability.

Major benefits from a new Salem River Crossing include the following:

1) Public Safety

Salem’s existing bridges will not survive a major earthquake that experts say is already overdue.  A new bridge built to modern seismic standards will provide critical access to Salem Hospital and other emergency services in the event of an earthquake or community emergency.

2) Vehicle, Bicycle, Transit, and Pedestrian Transportation Connectivity
A new bridge system in Salem provides direct transportation connections for residents in North and West Salem to have access to Salem’s parks, schools, jobs, and neighborhoods.

3) Relieving Salem Congestion and Improving Livability
Traffic already exceeds capacity on Salem’s two existing bridges during the morning and evening commute.  With bridge traffic expected to increase by 80% in just the next twenty years, Salem residents will be dealing with a traffic nightmare unless a new bridge is built.

4) Promote a Vibrant Downtown
An additional bridge would divert trucks and other traffic around the downtown core, creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment that is better for downtown Salem businesses.

5) Strengthen the Local Economy

A new bridge will help attract and retain manufacturing and agricultural jobs in Marion and Polk counties by allowing businesses to efficiently ship their products to market.  

6) Increased Property Values in North and West Salem

It is proven that transportation connectivity improves access to community amenities and can strengthen the value of property. A new bridge system will create economic opportunities on both sides of the river and property values over time will increase accordingly.

What is Your Favorite Bridge Benefit Above?

Email us at thirdbridgesalem@gmail.com 

Insights from the Third Bridge Field Trip

On February 19, Salem City Council and interested Salem residents toured the areas that would be impacted by the location of a third bridge.

We offer the following insights as a result of the most recent field trip.

(1)   The Pine Street/Hickory Street/Liberty Rd/Front Street areas have properties which are vacant, under-utilized, or for sale. Almost all of the area affected by bridgeheads connecting to Pine Street NE and Hickory Street NE are really more in a low-volume or low-existent commercial use and, not substantially in residential use.   

(2)   Absent also were any sidewalks or crosswalks on parts of Pine and Hickory streets.  

(3)   The Third Bridge EIS is providing Council with great opportunities to improve neighborhoods (i.e., sidewalks, streetlights, green areas), as well as provide for better mobility. 

(4)   As originally designed, the potential of extending Pine Street eastward to directly connect to Silverton Rd NE (over the RR tracks) would also improve east-west traffic flows.

(5)   In West Salem, improvements for the planned Marine Drive NW are already in the Salem’s Transportation Plan.  While those improvements may need to be expanded to the Third Bridge traffic, impacts to residential areas are minimal and already assumed for Marine Drive NW.

(6)   Marine Drive NW $3.5M funding is already provided for in the 2008 Streets and Bridges bond measure, approved by the voters.

(7)   Much of the south-side of Edgewater NW is already ODOT-owned Right-of-Way (“ROW”).  Regardless of improvements needed for a Third Bridge, ODOT currently has the option of widening OR Highway 22 where parts of the Edgewater Drive linear park are now and underneath where some of the northern Edgewater NW small businesses are now.

Third Bridge Alliance Presentation Slides

Please see the following pdf for important factual information regarding the ongoing third bridge discussion for our regional economy:

ThirdBridgeAllianceSlides.pdf

A Mid-Valley Vision Statement

The Salem City Council will hold their fourth work session on the Salem River Crossing this coming Tuesday at 5:30pm at the Broadway Commons. As our community continues to prepare to make a very important decision for our future, the Third Bridge Alliance would like everyone to consider one question.

What is our vision statement for transportation infrastructure?
For example, the Salem-Keizer School District's Vision Statement is that every student in the K-12 school system will graduate.

We believe an appropriate Third Bridge vision statement should be to take care of all of our region's transportation needs across the Willamette River for the next 30-50 years.

The data clearly shows that additional infrastructure across the Willamette River is needed to accommodate the growth of the Mid-Willamette Valley over the course of the next 30 years.

There is one alternative that is clearly the vision statement to accommodate the growth in transportation forecasting models and that is Alternative 4D. The component of 4D that is most important is the connection of a third bridge to Highway 22 infrastructure.

Let's review some of the concerns of 4D

1) 4D would be a monstrosity of concrete pillars and highway that consumes North Salem and West Salem's livability.
An elevated highway is included in the current 4D plan and it certainly would add a new transportation element to our community. Currently, the Salem City Council is looking at alternative options to an elevated highway. As long as there is direct connection to Highway 22 that provides transportation efficiencies, we can be confident we have adopted a plan that adequately addresses the costs of congestion to both residents and businesses. Without the direct connection, we run a major risk of clogging West Salem roadways and North Salem roadways with traffic that has no intention of stopping in Salem's residential neighborhoods. That traffic must be addressed to protect livability in both North and West Salem as well as downtown for generations to come.

2) 4D costs $800 million dollars according to those against a bridge. Who is going to pay for it?
The cost estimate for 4D is $687 million in 2015 dollars. This includes a 40% construction cost contingency  for unanticipated expenses. As a community we must remember that an adopted plan is a "vision statement" for the future. It does not mean the full 4D plan would be implemented in one massive construction project. The first phase of 4D would most likely look like the other alternative being discussed, 4A, which is a third bridge option that provides a more local solution to local traffic but doesn't address the very important regional connection that will be necessary based on transportation forecasting models. The first phase of 4D would most likely cost $200 million and take place within the next 6-8 years. With regional partners, the price tag of various phases is doable and could be accomplished with a commitment to collaboration.

3) Why don't we adopt 4A now and wait until later to see if we need 4D? I'm not sure I agree that we will see the population growth that others are saying we will see in the next 30 years.
If we don't adopt our "vision statement" for the third bridge, we have to go through the entire Environmental Impact Study process again which costs taxpayers millions of dollars and years of staff time and consultant costs. The millions of dollars we have already spent as taxpayers makes it very clear that 4D is the option that will take care of our congestion issues based on transportation forecasting models. If 4D is adopted, it includes buy in from regional partners, and also provides Salem the flexibility it needs to approach transportation improvements in phases. If we only adopt 4A and then the growth projections are accurate, we are in trouble. Not only would we spend millions of dollars more, we will also have to start the Environmental Impact Study process all over again which would take years to accomplish. City Councilor Warren Bednarz has already been involved in the current planning process with other committed community members for the past 6 years. Imagine the headaches if we are forced to start all over again because of our inability to envision our region beyond a 4A local bridge.

4) I understand what you're saying but I really don't think the region will see the growth that is being forecasted. Shouldn't that change our approach now?
Let's say growth projections in 20 years don't actually come to fruition until the 30 year mark. This 10 year gap in projection makes little difference when planning major transportation projects like the third bridge. The important thing to remember is that the growth will come. The real question is will we be prepared for it or will we decide not to act? If we choose the latter, it has major implications on our livability as a community.

5) I keep on hearing that the third bridge is so important to our economy. Where is the data that supports that? Has the City done any type of economic impact study in addition to the environmental impact study? I also heard that the third bridge would displace 65 to 75 businesses who employ approximately 500 people with total annual sales of approximately $75 million. What message are we sending businesses and residents by placing a bridge on top of their current location?
Major transportation projects bring both short term and long term impacts on regional economies. Salem is a hub of economic activity for Marion and Polk counties. Our competitiveness is dependent on efficient transportation and congestion threatens the economic vitality of our region now and into the future.

For those businesses and residents that would be displaced by a new bridge, it will be extremely important that a collaborative team approach be taken to assist both businesses and residents with relocation. The costs of a third bridge as well as any major transportation projects include of the costs of property acquisition. A contingency of 40% is included intentionally to ensure the project adequately compensates both residents and businesses for the purchase of their property.

Improved infrastructure connecting Interstate 5 to the north and Highway 22 to the west would result in the following economic efficiencies:

• Reduced fuel costs to transport products within the Marion/Polk market area
• Reduced labor costs to transport products within the Marion/Polk market area
• Improvements in productivity
• Decreases in inventory

Withouth improved infrastructure, growth projections will put businesses within the region at a competitive disadvantage and we run the risk of losing employers to other locations. With a collaborative approach to relocating businesses and residents impacted in the short term, we can prepare our region for long term economic vitality.

Third Bridge Alliance Blogspot and Facebook Posts

The Third Bridge Alliance Blog and Facebook page will be used for official Third Bridge Alliance postings only.

Much conversation and debate exists amongst advocates and opponents of a third vehicular bridge crossing the Willamette River in Salem. If you are a proponent of a third bridge, we encourage you to continue following our official posts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thirdbridgealliance) and  here on Blogspot.

If you are an opponent to the third bridge, we encourage you to engage in the discussion taking place on the following Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NO-3rd-Bridge/350926584998087?ref=ts&fref=ts

For those interested in gathering more factual information about the third bridge effort, all data can be found at: http://salemrivercrossing.org/

Statesman Journal Editorial Board says "Third Bridge is Vital to Mid-Valley Economy"

The Mid-Valley is inching closer to getting a third Salem-area bridge across the Willamette River. Yet some people question whether that bridge is needed. The answer remains an unequivocal yes.

A third bridge is critical to the Mid-Valley’s economic vitality.
The Salem City Council will hold a work session Dec. 17 on the third-bridge project, known as the Salem River Crossing. The council, working in concert with other local governments, eventually will decide whether to proceed with a bridge, where to build it, what to include as far connecting streets and other infrastructure, and how to pay for it.

It would be at least a $100 million project and conceivably closer to $800 million. “This is such a significant decision,” Salem City Manager Linda Norris said Friday.

Bridge essential for economy

A third bridge should provide an easier, faster connection between Highway 22 and Interstate 5. That would enhance Salem’s role as the gateway to the Oregon Wine Country and to the Oregon Coast. It would make Polk County more attractive for industrial development, while also moving much of the heavy-truck traffic away from downtown Salem. That in turn would make the downtown area more attractive as a place to shop, conduct business and live.

Salem is stuck with having major rail lines traverse the city’s core. But log trucks and most other big rigs — which remain important to our regional economy — could be routed around central Salem via the new bridge and improved street connections. That rerouting cannot be accomplished by simply tweaking the existing bridge access, as some have suggested.

A new bridge — designed and built to withstand the greatest seismic probabilities — would provide a badly needed alternative route in case of a natural disaster that damaged the other bridges or an incident that blocked their traffic. Past incidents have tied up traffic across the Mid-Valley for hours, forcing commuters, trucks and tourists to take bumper-to-bumper detours through Independence, Newberg or other river crossings. Fortunately, such incidents have been rare.

The bridge also would serve the expected growth in Polk and Yamhill counties, especially the West Salem area.

Delays not acceptable

Any bridge is decades away from completion. The environmental impact statement, which was started in 2006, is roughly two-thirds of the way through the process. Then come the funding, design and construction. That’s why it’s important not to delay the project, because many critical decisions must be made before the region can determine local sources — such as tolls or taxes — and seek state and federal funds.

At this point, the favored alternative would cross the Willamette River near Hope Avenue on the west side and near Pine Street on the east side.

As with any decision, there will be winners and losers with whichever alternative is chosen — just as a decision to do nothing would create winners and losers. The public and government leaders have much to consider as far as location, cost and design. But there should be little debate about whether to move forward.

Progress has been slow

A third bridge has been discussed for generations. It was needed decades ago when a planned bridge near Dayton was scuttled. It was needed in the early 1980s when Salem’s Marion and Center street bridges were widened to four lanes each to handle more vehicles. It was needed in the 1990s when Wallace Road NW in West Salem was widened to four lanes to accommodate increased commuter traffic. And it remains needed in the 21st century, even though traffic numbers on the current bridges have dipped slightly, especially during the recession.

Oregon is a manufacturing state and a tourist destination; it has a commuting capital. A strong, efficient and modern transportation system is critical to our economy and to our future. The answer remains unequivocal: The Mid-Valley needs a third Willamette River bridge.

A Special Thanks to Salem City Council

At a recent City Council Work Session, 7 members of the Salem City Council agreed that a third vehicular bridge across the Willamette River is a necessary goal for the future of our regional economy.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Councilors Bennett and Thomas were unable to attend.

The Third Bridge Alliance would like to say thank you to all City Councilors present at the work session for saying Yes to a third bridge across the Willamette River.

We appreciate your leadership and your commitment to crafting a vision for the regional economy. The third bridge effort needs strong leadership and we thank you for leading the way as a part of Salem City Council.

The next City Council Work Session on the Third Bridge will take place on Monday, December 17 at 5:30pm in the Anderson Room of Salem's Public Library.