Vancouver city councillor Eric Paulson recently proposed bringing fixed rail infrastructure to the streets of Vancouver, sparking a thoughtful exchange among C-TRAN board members. The discussion took place during a special meeting and workshop for the C-TRAN Board of Directors earlier this month.

Costs and Benefits

Tim Hine, a city councillor from Camas and C-TRAN board member, expressed his reservations about the proposal, citing the potential costs for small cities in the area. Hine emphasized that any increase in costs should not come from the wallets of citizens in smaller cities, but rather from Vancouver and the Vancouver Urban Growth Area.

Bart Hansen, City Councilor from Vancouver and Chair of the C-TRAN Board, also responded to Paulson’s vision, stating that he is open to exploring all options but is not optimistic about bringing light rail to downtown Vancouver due to the high costs. Hansen’s foremost concern is ensuring the best transit service for Clark County over the next 20 years.

C-TRAN staff has been working on its 20-year plan, CTRAN 2045, for two years, engaging with city leaders, riders, and other stakeholders. The plan includes options for cutting services, maintaining services, and growing services, each with different costs for the public. Fixed rail infrastructure was not part of the original plan, but Paulson’s proposal has prompted the board to consider its possibility.

Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.