Even as the financial plan for the Columbia River Crossing is being demonstrated to be a piece of swiss cheese, Metro is getting ready to give it’s final major approval.

The so-call LUFO (Land Use Final Order) is Metro’s sign-off to the land-use impacts of the project, and Metro is the sole deciding agency under a streamlined process that was created back in the ’90s for the South-North light rail project.

But some critics think this is a reach. The legislation authorizing the streamlined approval process envisioned minor freeway changes associated with a light rail project. But Metro intends to put the entire CRC, including the bridge replacement and major interchange enhancements, under this provision.

Expect the lawyers and courts to get involved.