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At a meeting Thursday, the Columbia River Crossing project is expected to take a step forward with the Metro Council’s decision on the project’s Land Use Final Order.

鈥淭his is the final local approval step in the process,鈥� said Metro Director of Planning Andy Cotugno.

The LUFO decision is also providing a significant opportunity for the public to comment on the project. An online log collecting citizen comments already has a large number of comments from people, 鈥渕ost of which are opposed,鈥� Cotugno said. There will also be a public hearing at the Thursday 2 p.m. meeting.

If the Land Use Final Order is approved at the meeting, Metro President Tom Hughes will be authorized to sign the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement on behalf of Metro. When that document is official, federal highway and transportation agencies can issue their decisions on the process, after which conversations about funding for the project can begin, Cotugno said.