Washington State Transportation Commission to address local issues, I-5 bridge tolling at Chelan meeting

CHELAN - The Washington State Transportation Commission will hold a meeting in Chelan on July 24-25 to discuss local transportation issues and receive an update on the Interstate 5 bridge tolling analysis. The meeting is part of the commission's statewide visits to cities around the state to gather information on transportation system needs, opportunities, and plans.

The commission will begin with a work session at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, to discuss the toll-setting analysis for the Interstate 5 bridge crossing the Columbia River as part of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. The local meeting will follow from 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and continue from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, in the City Council Chambers of Chelan City Hall.

During the meeting, commissioners will hear from local government, business, and tribal leaders on how transportation networks support the area's residents and economy while sustaining regional growth. Topics to be covered include the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority's efforts to promote economic development through transportation, the integration of technology into agriculture and entrepreneurial efforts in the region, and the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation's business ventures in the Chelan area.

The commission will also vote on a proposal to name the Interstate 82 overpass in Union Gap the "Dan C. Olson Memorial Overpass," after the city's former mayor.

The meeting in Chelan is the third of four local meetings commissioners will hold in communities in 2024 as part of its statewide outreach program. The information gathered will inform policy recommendations shared with the Legislature and the governor.

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person or virtually, and public comment is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 25. The meeting will be streamed live on TVW.

Written comments can be submitted by email to transc@wstc.wa.gov.

For more information about the commission and a complete meeting agenda, visit the commission’s website: wstc.wa.gov.