Why are you doing this project?

The Marion Street and Center Street bridges in Salem are the only crossings of the Willamette River within the Salem-Keizer urban area. More traffic and continued population growth in the region are causing congestion that exceeds ODOT standards. Both bridges are operating near capacity and the connecting streets are over capacity. Without additional transportation capacity across the Willamette River, the levels of congestion on the bridges and connecting streets in downtown Salem and West Salem are forecast to worsen. Read more about the project's background.

Is the congestion problem on the bridge due to growth in west Salem or more regional traffic demands?

Based on 2006 traffic count data, approximately half (46%) of the traffic using the bridges originates from or is destined for points in western Polk County and beyond. The other half (54%) originates from west Salem.

How is this different from previous studies?

The need for a third bridge across the Willamette River in the Salem area has been discussed for many years. Many of the same issues identified in previous studies (for example, development in West Salem, traffic congestion on the bridges) are still relevant today. The most recent study of a new river crossing was the General Corridor Evaluation completed in 2002. The current Salem River Crossing project will use this previous study as a starting point.

The Salem River Crossing project will produce an environmental impact statement (EIS), which is the next step needed to secure federal funding for identified solutions.

Are you doing a new traffic study?

Yes. One of the first steps in the Salem River Crossing project is to collect current traffic information and to develop updated forecasts of future traffic growth to the year 2030.

What is an environmental impact statement (EIS)?

Whenever a transportation project is planned, there are potential impacts to the human and natural environment. An environmental impact statement is a document developed under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements that evaluates economic, social, and environmental effects of a proposed transportation project for which federal funding is being sought. The report is prepared with public participation for the purpose of informing decision-makers of an array of action alternatives, including doing nothing.

What is CETAS ?

CETAS stands for the Collaborative Environmental and Transportation Agreement for Streamlining. In response to federal directives, CETAS was created as a process to coordinate review of transportation construction projects. The process establishes a working relationship between the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and ten federal and state transportation, natural resource, cultural resource, and land-use planning agencies. The agencies include:

• Army Corps of Engineers (ACE),
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ),
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW),
• Oregon State Historic Preservation Office,
• Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), and
• Oregon Department of State Lands (ODSL).

ODOT uses the CETAS process for all environmental impact statements. The goal of this group is to identify and implement collaborative opportunities to help each participating agency realize its mission through sound environmental stewardship, while providing for a safe and efficient transportation system. To learn the role of CETAS specific to this project, read Who's Involved. To read more about CETAS, please visit their Web site.

Who will approve the project?

Federal, state, and local authorities and the public are involved throughout the environmental impact statement (EIS) process. The process concludes with a formal “Record of Decision” by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which documents the agency’s approval of the alternative recommended in the EIS.

Who’s involved in the project?

The project will rely on the input of the general public, the Salem River Crossing Task Force, an Oversight Team, a Project Management Team, Elected Officials, CETAS, ODOT, and FHWA. These groups include representatives of a number of local, state, and federal agencies in addition to citizens. Read a more detailed description of their roles.

How can I get involved?

There are a number of ways to get involved in the Salem River Crossing project. Opportunities will include public meetings, open houses, and surveys, among others.

What is the project schedule?

View major milepoints and a description of the current tasks on the schedule page.

Who would pay for a new bridge?

A new bridge across the Willamette River in Salem is likely to be expensive and as a result potentially would require funds from multiple sources. These sources could range from traditional public funds to alternative forms of funding. The Salem River Crossing project will include analysis of funding options for the alternatives that are developed and studied in detail.

What needs to happen for a new bridge to be built?

A number of steps are required before a new bridge could be constructed. First, a decision must be made through the EIS process that a new bridge is the preferred alternative to solve the identified transportation problems. Second, the FHWA must sign the Final EIS and approve the Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD would not be approved until all local land use actions are complete and funding and mitigation plans in place. If an approved funding plan is not in place, the FHWA will not approve construction of a bridge, only the location of a bridge. The current schedule shows a ROD could be in place by Spring of 2009.

Once the EIS has been approved and permits have been granted, the primary remaining barrier would be funding. It is not known at this time how much a bridge would cost nor how it would be funded. Once funding is in place, construction could begin.

Who do I contact for more information?

For technical questions, please use the form on the Contact Us page.

For general questions or concerns, please use the comment form.

What do all these acronyms (like CETAS, FHWA, ODOT, etc.) mean?

CETAS - Collaborative Environmental and Transportation Agreement for Streamlining. You can read more about CETAS and their role in this project on this page or the Who's Involved page.

EIS - Environmental Impact Statement

FHWA - Federal Highway Administration. You can read more about the FHWA on the Who's Involved page or their Web site.

MPO - Metropolitan Planning Organization

MWVCOG - Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments. You can read about their role in this project on the Who's Involved page.

ODOT - Oregon Department of Transportation. You can read about ODOT's role in this project on the Who's Involved page or on their Web site.

SAFETEA-LU - Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users. Congressional authorization of $286 billion in spending for the five-year period 2005-09 for numerous surface transportation programs, such as highways, transit, freight, safety, and research. Also sets goals, rules and regulations for that period. Read more on their Web site.

SKATS - Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study

UGB - Urban Growth Boundary