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The environmental impact statement for the Interstate 5 Columbia River Crossing project was expected to be signed last month, but the ruling body of regional government Metro decided to delay that vote. This Thursday, councilors will vote to authorize Metro President Tom Hughes to sign the statement, thus pushing the CRC project forward one more step.

At an August meeting that was billed as the 鈥渓ast local approval鈥� of the CRC project’s land-use impacts, Metro councilors voted 6-1 to delay the vote. The delay was in response to concerns raised about the project’s impacts on communities and mitigation measures that could be written into the statement.

After that meeting, staff compiled a report addressing some of those impact issues, including the absence of a 鈥渃ommunity enhancement fund鈥� that would mitigate impacts of the project on communities, and concerns raised by Hayden Island residents about the effects of construction, including the closure of the island’s only grocery store.

Metro Council is expected to vote at its Thursday 2 p.m. meeting.