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Over the past century, American transportation systems have been tailored primarily to meet the needs of motor vehicles. Mass transit 鈥� particularly rail 鈥� has certainly played a role in moving people and goods, but the bulk of our investment in freeways, roads and bridges has historically favored cars and trucks. Today, the tide is shifting; one-sided transportation systems of days past, when entire neighborhoods were cleared in order to build freeways, are giving way to much more forward-thinking, equitable and holistic approaches.

The Interstate Bridge Replacement program, the bistate effort of Oregon and Washington to replace the 106-year-old bridge that carries Interstate 5 across the Columbia River, is a perfect example.

The IBR program team is striving to create a safer, seismically resilient transportation corridor that provides multimodal options for all travelers, not just for those who drive. This will mean a more efficient freeway, new light rail and transit connections, robust active transportation options for those who walk, bike or roll, and improved local street networks in both Portland and Vancouver.

Great idea, you might say; improved transportation is definitely a positive thing. But what does centering equity in a multibillion-dollar mega project like this actually entail?

For starters, we are working with communities on both sides of the Columbia River to help us achieve our goals. In listening to the voices of all those potentially impacted by this program we are offering access and decision-making influence to historically underserved communities throughout the program area. In short, an equitable process will help lead to equitable outcomes.

We are not doing this alone. The IBR program is working with our Equity Advisory Group, Community Advisory Group and our Executive Steering Group featuring 10 bistate agencies (including the Oregon and Washington departments of transportation) with a direct delivery or operational role in the integrated, multimodal transportation system.

So, what does this approach to equity look like as a vision, and then ultimately in the environment and spaces it will occupy once our multimodal system is completed?

Making it work better for all, together

It all begins with a smart design that looks at how roads and arterials interact with the places where we work and call home; this is the antithesis of the approach used when the country鈥檚 earlier transportation systems were built. This stage of the process helps rethink (or, in some cases, leave alone) how existing communities and neighborhoods interact with transportation infrastructure.

To create an equitable transportation corridor, the urban design elements must reflect and be responsive to the communities they serve. This includes consideration not only of where new transit stations will be located, and the safety and comfort of those who use them, but how the new infrastructure respects the cultures of those who have existed there for decades, or even centuries.

The same things are true of active transportation facilities built for those whose primary methods of travel are walking, biking or rolling. Mobility and accessibility, physical design and community benefits all must be considered to ensure that design, structure and motive are clear to the user and ensure a high-quality experience, regardless of age, gender, identity, race or ability.

Equitable multimodal safety

Safety is a key consideration for providing equitable travel options. This means considering how new roadways interact with the built and natural environments, including local streets and active transportation networks that have long been neglected. New local streets and multiuse paths planned for Hayden Island, for example, will improve accessibility and safety for some of our most vulnerable communities. It is a sad fact that people experiencing houselessness and people of color are disproportionately involved in incidents involving pedestrian fatalities. released in 2022 showed that approximately 70 percent of pedestrians killed in vehicle crashes in 2021 were unhoused. This is not acceptable, and we are dedicated to putting safety at the forefront for all our community members.

Continuity in equity

Equity is not something with an end point; it is a benchmark we use to continually strive for improvement. Even when the IBR program is completed, equity will remain at the forefront of how our system operates. Everyone deserves to benefit.

Work occurring this year marks one of the most important opportunities for community engagement in the IBR program to date. As we prepare to finalize a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for submission to our federal partners, we will engage in a wide range of public outreach, including a public comment period later this year. In the meantime, to learn more about how the IBR program is centering equity, please join us for our , 鈥淭he Intersection of Multimodal Transportation and Equity,鈥� on Tuesday, June 13, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will be live-streamed and available for replay on our YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook platforms.

Casey Liles is the engineering manager for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. Contact him at 503-897-9218 or [email protected].

Shilpa Mallem is the deputy design manager for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. Contact her at 503-897-9218 or [email protected].

Editor鈥檚 note: Nolan Lienhart and Jake Warr of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program contributed to this column.

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed in the preceding commentary are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Daily Journal of Commerce or its editors. None of the authors nor the 91视频 guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.