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The Columbia River Crossing project involves relationships and coordination among a variety of state and local agencies in both Washington and Oregon, in partnership with the federal government. Listed below are the groups involved and a short description of their role in the project. In addition to these groups, the project will rely on the involvement of individuals, organizations, and businesses to provide input to the decision making process. 
Project
Development Team Project Development Team The Project Development Team is responsible for the day-to-day management, development, and delivery of the Columbia River Crossing Project. It includes staff from sponsoring agencies (primarily WSDOT and ODOT) and is supported by contracted staff. Working Groups Working Groups are being formed to address specific project issues as they arise. Groups are expected to include specialists from agency and consultant staff as well as other organizations. The project anticipates working groups to address public involvement, freight issues, economic development, travel forecasting, engineering, specific environmental disciplines, and financing. Other working groups may also be formed as needed. Continue reading about Working Groups. Task Force 
The 39-member Task Force is comprised of leaders from a broad cross section of the Washington and Oregon communities interested in the project, including public agencies, businesses, civic organizations, neighborhoods, freight, commuter, and environmental groups. The Task Force will provide recommendations regarding the project to the Project Sponsors Council. Continue reading about the Columbia River Crossing Task Force. Project Sponsors Council The Project Sponsors Council will receive recommendations from the Task Force, public input, and advice from the Project Development Team and concur on whether to move forward based on those recommendations. It includes executive staff or elected officials from:
Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are co-lead agencies for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process that governs proposed actions requiring federal funding, federal permits, or federal approvals. FHWA and FTA will sign the Environmental Impact Statement and the Record of Decision, affirming the selection of project alternatives, and allowing it to move forward into design and construction. Interstate Collaborative Environmental Process (InterCEP) The Interstate Collaborative Environmental Process (InterCEP) was established to coordinate and streamline the regulatory reviews and permitting functions of the participating agencies. Members include representatives from key national and state agencies responsible for protecting the region's air, water, wildlife and cultural resources. This committee must formally concur on project decisions affecting their areas of concern at major project milestones. In addition, the committee provides advice and consultation regarding the NEPA process to the Project Development Team at formal concurrence points. They will use a "streamlining" approach patterned after Washington's Signatory Agency Committee processes and Oregon's Collaborative Environmental and Transportation Agreement on Streamlining. |
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