IBR Receives Federal Record of Decision but Major Funding Questions Remain Unanswered

Neighbors for a Better Crossing calls for independent oversight, a complete funding plan, and greater financial transparency before procurement begins

PORTLAND, Ore. / VANCOUVER, Wash. — In response to yesterday's announcement that the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program has received its federal Record of Decision, Neighbors for a Better Crossing (NFBC) is calling on Oregon and Washington leaders to address significant unanswered questions about the project's funding, financial risks, and long-term accountability before moving forward with contractor procurement.

While the federal Record of Decision completes the environmental review process and allows the project to advance toward procurement and construction, it does not answer one of the most important questions facing taxpayers:

How will the remaining billions of dollars needed to complete the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program be funded?

"While IBR Program is celebrating the first $5.7 billion, taxpayers are wondering where the other roughly $9 billion will come from," said Gary Clark, Chair of Neighbors for a Better Crossing. "A Record of Decision is not an indication of financial readiness. Before Oregon and Washington begin hiring contractors and committing taxpayers to the largest public infrastructure projects in our bi-state history, the public deserves a complete funding plan, independent oversight, and full transparency regarding the project's total cost and financial risks."

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program's current planning estimate is approximately $14.4 billion, yet yesterday's announcement highlights only $5.7 billion in funding for the initial phase without explaining how the remaining roughly $9 billion needed to complete the project will be financed.

We believe those questions should be answered before procurement begins—not after taxpayers become financially committed.

Once major construction contracts are awarded and construction begins, it becomes much more difficult for future legislators to pause, scale back, or reconsider the project. There is tremendous pressure to continue funding a project once it is underway, even if costs continue to increase. That's why these funding questions need to be answered before procurement—not after.

NFBC is calling on the governors of Oregon and Washington, both state legislatures, Congress, federal transportation officials, and independent oversight agencies to publicly explain how the remaining billions of dollars needed to complete the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program will be funded before major construction contracts are awarded.

NFBC is also urging an independent outside financial audit of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.

Despite repeated increases in project cost estimates and ongoing questions about financial transparency, there has never been an independent outside audit of the Program's financial assumptions, cost estimates, or management.  For a project of this magnitude, independent oversight should be standard practice—not an afterthought.

NFBC also questions whether the current proposal represents the best long-term value for taxpayers.

"From our perspective, spending approximately $14.4 billion to replace a three-lane bridge with another three-lane bridge that does nothing to solve traffic congestion raises legitimate questions about long-term value, particularly when this is being presented as a 100-year transportation investment," Clark said.

NFBC believes taxpayers deserve clear answers to several critical questions before procurement moves forward:

• How will the remaining billions of dollars needed to complete the project be funded?
• If project costs continue to increase, who will ultimately pay those additional costs?
• What safeguards are in place to protect taxpayers and toll payers from future cost overruns?
• Why move into procurement before a complete funding plan for the entire project has been identified and secured?
• Why has there not been an independent outside audit of the project's financial assumptions, cost estimates, and management?

NFBC recently sent a letter to Oregon and Washington legislators requesting an independent investigation into project cost disclosures, financial assumptions, and decision-making related to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. The letter calls for greater transparency, independent oversight, and accountability before additional public funds are committed.

About Neighbors for a Better Crossing

Neighbors for a Better Crossing is an Oregon-based nonprofit coalition of community members, local businesses, bridge construction engineers, transportation professionals, and nonprofit partner organizations advocating for common-sense transportation solutions for the Interstate 5 Columbia River crossing. NFBC supports transparent decision-making, independent evaluation of alternatives, fiscal responsibility, protection of the Columbia River and surrounding communities, and transportation investments that provide the greatest public benefit while minimizing taxpayer risk