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May 13, 2009
CRC Opposition Moves to Google Earth
If we can't stop 'em in the real world, we'll out flank them in the virtual world!
A self-described "animator turned-urban-planning grad student" has created a nice description of induced demand illustrated in Google Earth (you'll need version 5.0):
http://www.bikefuel.com/CRCTour/ColumbiaRiverCrossing.kmz
Anyone up for an anti-CRC rally in Second Life?
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:49 AM
Comments
May 13, 2009 9:20 AM
Allan Says:
this is a pretty awesome set of graphics
May 13, 2009 11:57 AM
Dave H Says:
Pretty, but makes a lot of assumptions that haven't been true anywhere else in the US, and proposes solutions that are politically impossible in this country.
Has the author even been to N Portland during the evening rush hour? Everything northbound seems to be gridlocked, avoiding I-5. How will replacing the bridge make that traffic worse?
The Fremont interchange is a red herring, because it could be improved upon, and most of the traffic isn't going to downtown. Most traffic from Vancouver is going to North Portland, from every study relating to the CRC that I've seen. That's why the auxiliary lanes end there.
I'd prefer to see another crossing proposed instead (as I've mentioned many, many times), but I'll support the CRC if this is the best argument against it that anyone can come up with.
To beat another dead horse, act of congress to toll, federal funding out the window if we do the phased improvements without fixing I-5 as well, etc.
May 13, 2009 12:28 PM
Benjamin B Says:
Very cool! Kinda funny, I was watching the animations during my econ class and my prof started mentioning the CRC (public vs private, tolls, tansit, etc). I was inches away from jumping up and using these as a visual aid. Others sitting around me also commented.
May 14, 2009 6:39 AM
Nick Falbo Says:
I'm the creator of the animation, thanks for the comments! The animation is unabashedly anti-CRC propaganda, that's for sure.
The main ideas and alternatives come from the www.smarterbridge.org site. I'm not personally convinced the alternatives they present are the best solution (and as Dave H says, a few are politically impossible), but I am convinced the CRC is not the solution either.
May 14, 2009 12:40 PM
Unit Says:
I don't get it - is there supposed to be sound or something? I watched lots of colored lines moving around, didn't know what was being conveyed. This is the first GE "movie" I've seen, so I may just be dense. The bridge models were cool though.
May 14, 2009 5:08 PM
CF Says:
Any re-considerations for a tunnel to complement the existing bridge? Columbia river is not incredibly deep along I-5:
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18525.shtml
Seattle laughed off a tunnel at first, but a new approach came along which the gov' just signed off: 2 miles, 4 lanes, $4B, deep-bore tunnel to replace the ailing Alaska Viaduct.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/Viaduct/
Would be a lot less ugly than another bridge.
May 14, 2009 10:19 PM
Dave H Says:
The tunnel would need to bypass most of Delta Park and Vancouver as I understand it, making it more than 2 miles.
May 15, 2009 6:34 AM
Nick Falbo Says:
If anyone is having trouble with playback in Google Earth, you can try playing it in your web browser:
Click on the "Watch In Your Browser" links from my blog post:
http://vzzy.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/crc-google-earth-tour/
I hope this will solve any sound/graphics problems people are having.
May 15, 2009 9:31 AM
Unit Says:
Thanks Nick, that did the trick. Well done!
May 16, 2009 12:13 PM
Graham V Says:
Sweet animation! I found this just by googling "nick i-5 bridge," so it's easy to track down. I think tolling in general, and the idea of peak-hour tolling especially, will be essential to the success of this project.
One additional comment from the cycling community of the 'Couve: Don't forget the bike highway!
