March 4, 2022

HOOD RIVER, ORE. and WHITE SALMON, WA. – The effort to replace the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge reached an important milestone Friday morning with the passage of SSB 5558 in the Washington legislature, following passage of Oregon HB 4089-1 earlier this week. Both bills allow for the establishment of a new legal local government that spans the state line for the governance of a locally owned interstate toll bridge. “I am extremely pleased and gratified that SB 5558, the Bi-state Bridge Commission Bill, passed this morning in the House by a unanimous vote,” said Washington Senator Curtis King, who spearheaded the effort in his state. “The importance of this bill was obviously recognized, as it was passed out of its transportation committees, the House, and Senate with not a single ‘no’ vote. The bill is now on its way to the governor, we hope he will sign it into law in short order.”

Once signed by the governors of both states, the new law does the following:

• Allows for a legal local government to be created over state lines.
• Allows for separate state funding to be received by the new entity as well as federal funding.
• Enables the new entity to issue toll bonds but does not grant any property tax authority.
• Identifies the new entity as responsible for development, finance, construction, and operation of the new bridge connecting Hood River, OR to White Salmon and Bingen, WA.
• Insulates local governments and the state from liability and allows the authority to secure investment-grade credit rating for toll financing.
• Establishes equal representation for citizens from Hood River and Klickitat Counties on the governing body.

In a letter to Governor Inslee regarding bridge funding earlier this month, Governor Brown stated “…The Port of Hood River has worked diligently to create a strong bi-state partnership to facilitate bridge replacement, including a Bi-State Working Group comprising of local officials from both states.” The legislation only applies to bi-state local government toll bridges so the Bridge of the Gods, owned by the Port of Cascade Locks, would be the only other eligible bridge. Governor Brown signed the Oregon legislation into law on March 2nd.

Port of Hood River Commissioner Mike Fox and Klickitat County Commissioner Jacob Anderson have led the efforts of the Bi-State Working Group (“BSWG”) in recent months to pursue passage of the legislation as well as Port, state, and federal funding for the next steps in the replacement process. “The Bi-State Working Group has been acting as the precursor entity to this new organization and is 100% committed to getting our new bridge built as quickly as possible all the while watching out to limit the amount of costs that must be repaid through future tolls. I believe this is just the start,” said Fox. “The momentum is building every day.”

Over the last two years, the bridge replacement project has pulled together $15 million for planning and pre-development work. The Port received $5 million from Oregon for the federally required NEPA process, expected to be complete later this year. Current available funding will allow for project management and significant engineering necessary to make the project “shovel ready.” Much more funding will be needed to complete the financing, but the formation of a bi-state bridge authority will help galvanize the region’s advocacy efforts.

Kevin Greenwood, the Port’s bridge replacement project director, noted that the most recent Preliminary Cost Estimate for the project put the cost at around $500 million, assuming construction would begin in 2026. “The focus now turns to financing and continued advocacy by all members of the Bi-State Working Group for the significant public funding from the states and the federal government that will be needed to keep the future tolls as low as possible.” The Washington transportation package currently working through the legislature includes a $75 million appropriation for the new bridge. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”) funding that flows through ODOT that is allocated for local bridges was recently increased from $35 million to $100 million by the Oregon Transportation Commission. 

For more information, contact the Port of Hood River via email to info@portofhoodriver.com.