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Alley Calls for Halting Milwaukie Light Rail |
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Monday, 03 May 2010 22:14 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tim Maloney
May 3, 2010 (503) 805-1194
Alley Calls for Halting Milwaukie Light Rail
Says state borrowing $250 million for 7-mile MAX line is irresponsible. Proposes moving funds into Sellwood Bridge repair.
Portland, OR – During an interview on the Lars Larson show today Allen Alley, proposed stopping the planned light rail line from Portland State University to Milwaukie. The state sold $250 million in lottery-backed bonds to partially fund the $1.4 billion project, but those dollars have not yet been spent.
“During a time of budget crisis and rising debt, state government has to prioritize and put every dollar toward its highest use,” said Alley. “Can anybody say with a straight face that $1.4 billion spent on a 7-mile light rail line to Milwaukie is more important than repairing the Sellwood Bridge or expanding overcrowded public schools? Who is asking these questions in Salem? It’s time somebody did.”
The proposed Portland-to-Milwaukie light rail line will run 7.3 miles from Portland State University to Park Avenue/McLoughlin Boulevard on the south edge of Milwaukie. In order to route it through the South Waterfront District and then across the river, an entirely new bridge will be required. This bridge alone is estimated to cost $135 million and will be limited to light rail and 3 bus lines; no private motor vehicles will be allowed, even though all other Willamette River bridges currently exceed design capacity for traffic at the evening peak period.
The Sellwood Bridge is the busiest 2-lane bridge in Oregon, but has a federal “sufficiency rating” of 2 on a scale of 100. “Ignoring one of the greatest public safety and transportation bottlenecks we have while building a rail, bus and bike bridge literally in the shadow of the Sellwood is an iconic example of the bad business decisions made by government.”
“State debt per capita has increased 101% since 2000 to over $2,800 per person,” said Alley. “Someone has to step up and say “no”. We cannot keep mortgaging our children’s future. We simply have to start treating Oregonians like customers and owners, not like an ATM machine.”
Allen Alley, a businessman with 30 years experience in starting and growing companies, was the Republican nominee for State Treasurer in 2008. He resides in Lake Oswego with his wife Debbie and their three children.
For more information on Allen Alley, please visit www.AllenAlley.com.
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