Light rail, express bus operation on new Interstate 5 Bridge projected to cost $10.3M annually, less than half of last estimate

New estimates indicate the cost of operating and maintaining light rail trains and express buses on the planned Interstate 5 replacement bridge will likely be less than half the $21.8 million annual price tag that shocked local officials in December.

Interstate Bridge Replacement Program administrators shared the new cost projections during C-Tran’s board of directors meeting Tuesday evening. They said the total operations and maintenance costs — shared by Oregon and Washington — will be closer to $10.3 million a year.

The costs reflect 2035 dollars, the year the trains and buses are expected to begin service across the new I-5 bridge.

Fares should cover about 10 percent of the operations and maintenance costs, leaving Washington on the hook for a little more than $4.12 million a year