Vancouver City Council push forward to extend MAX transit into downtown area

VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) - Vancouver City Council voted unanimously on Monday to stick with the original plan for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project and ensure the MAX light rail extension reaches downtown Vancouver.

The plan, introduced in 2021, aims to replace the 109-year-old bridge and make it more efficient and earthquake-resistant. Officials hope to extend Portland’s MAX line into Vancouver as part of the replacement.

The project is estimated to cost between $13.5 billion and $15.2 billion. Because of rising costs, project leaders suggested cutting the MAX extension short and ending it at the waterfront. However, some Vancouver residents say the downtown extension is necessary.

“I think there’s a huge market of people that would like to go from one to the other—from the Vancouver side to the Portland side,” said Vancouver resident Nik Gordon. “Having the MAX was really helpful because it does seem to have greater reliability.”

“If things go into the future and I need to get down to Portland, just being able to get on the rail and ride across the bridge—without having to sit in traffic—would be fantastic,” Gordon said.

Washington and Oregon’s governors recently showed a united front in support of the project last month. Officials say the I-5 Bridge is a critical connection between the two states, and they will do all they can to ensure the replacement project succeeds.

Everything included in the full project must be federally approved. Bridge construction has been pushed back and is expected to begin in 2028.