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Vancouver City Council member Bill Turlay sat down and spoke with COUV.COM about his views the Columbia River light rail tolling project & various city council issues.

To skip to specific comments, click on a question below.

• It appears that the decision maker for the CRC project have circled the wagons and are not willing to address the community issues related to the CRC.  Is it really as simple as what Governor Inslee said during his recent visit here that the project must move forward for the greater good? Is there still room to negotiate?

• We have some local politicians here, State representative Monica Stonier said in a town hall the other night that the bridge cannot be built without light rail.  Is she correct in that statement?

• What are your thoughts on how the construction of the CRC project will affect the downtown businesses, especially considering that it will have a 7- 9 year period for construction?

• Talking about the companies being affected, what about the ones along the river, the Kaiser Shipyards, Thompson Metal Fab, how are they going to be affected by this project if indeed it does goes through with this huge bridge they are talking about?

• Doesn’t the height of the bridge part of the issue but part of the issue is also the railroad trestle? Right now, they got a S-curve they almost have to do to meet the railroad trestle?

• Now we come to tolling. How do you think the tolling of the CRC will affect our local economy? I have heard rumors that the toll could go up as high as $8.00 one way.

• At a recent city council meeting, the councilmen were more open than usual.  The dialogue between citizens and the council was frank and to the point.  Subjects focused on the peoples’ initiative petition to be able to vote on the light rail.  What are your thoughts on how the council is handling the issue?

• Other than tolls do you see another way that the State of Washington will come up with their share of the money for the bridge project?

• Talking about money, we have heard that the city council has a financial structural deficit.  Can you quickly touch on that?

• Is that why you changed your mind and voted for the 1 percent increase due to the State rule?

Contact information:

Bill Turlay: bill.turlay@cityofvancouver.us

City of Vancouver website

Mayor and Council Office: Phone 360-487-8600