Ask your friends to weigh in on the Big Bridge

Portland, our city known for leadership on the environment and sustainable transportation, is rushing head-long into approving an enormous freeway project.

The proposal is to spend $4.2 billion doubling the size of the I-5 bridge between Portland and Vancouver to 12 lanes. Even if they add light rail and bike lanes, would lead to more global warming pollution, sprawling development, and traffic--according to the supporters own estimates! And imagine how many transportation issues we could address with $4.2 billon.

The city council is deciding this week.

Email your friends and family and urge them to weigh in with city council on this important issue.

Enter your friends' and family members' email addresses below. Feel free to use our template for your email or write your own.

Your E-mail Address
Friends' E-mail Addresses (Enter as many as you like, one per line)
Subject	Portland: Put the brakes on the Big Bridge!
Message (Feel free to add you own personal comments)	Hi there, I got this email from Environment Oregon and decided to email city council. I hope you'll do the same! ***************************** A 12-lane $4.2 billion freeway project in Portland? Shouldn't we think about this a little first? To me, it's seems bizarre that our city, known for leadership in environmentalism and sustainable transportation, would rush headlong into approving an enormous bridge expansion on I-5 between Portland and Vancouver. But politicians are on the verge of approving this project -- despite the fact that it would be incredibly costly and lead to more global warming pollution, sprawling development, and traffic. I'm against the project in general, and am certainly against the fact that no one is taking the time to think it through. Tell the Portland City Council: Put the brakes on the Big Bridge. http://www.environmentoregon.org/action/global-warming/big-bridge?id4=TAFsent This project is eerily like freeway projects from the 60s and 70s, including the Mt. Hood Freeway that Portlanders rejected. The biggest difference? Now it's 2008. With global warming and skyrocketing gas prices, it should be even easier for Portland to realize that more freeways and more care traffic aren't what our city needs. The project is "improving" the Columbia River Crossing between Portland and Vancouver on I-5. The project is being backed by Portland Business Alliance and trucking and freight companies (big surprise). Backers of the project say they're doing the right thing, by proposing light rail and bike plans, as well as tolling to pay for it. But the reality is that none of those additions to the bridge can make up for the increased sprawl and traffic that transportation experts agree we'll see if we do what they're asking and double the size of the freeway. Worst of all, Environment Oregon's own analysis concludes that doubling the size of I-5 might actually make it impossible to meet the goal of reducing global warming pollution in our area 80% by 2050. And it'll cost $4.2 billion -- the biggest project in our region's history. Imagine all the transportation improvements we could make, from more light rail and streetcars to better bus service or, say, sidewalks in the east Portland neighborhoods that don't have them, with $4 billion! The I-5 bridge should be improved. But before we jump into the biggest road project in Portland history, we need to think the idea through. Just one example of where the proponents haven't thought it through? Their 12-lane freeway proposal assumes they have to build for a 40% increase in vehicle traffic. But with current gas prices, people are driving less, not more! City council is deciding next week. Join us in telling them not to approve the new bridge and to ask for a better and more sustainable proposal. http://www.environmentoregon.org/action/global-warming/big-bridge?id4=TAFsent Sincerely, Jeremiah Baumann Environment Oregon ********************************************************** You've been sent this email by a friend. If you've received this email in error, we apologize.