Salem River Crossing

As a result of City Council action on February 11, 2019, city staff will work with ODOT and FHWA to complete the Salem River Crossing project with No Build as the preferred alternative. The option to do nothing, referred to as the No Build alternative, is always a viable option in an Environmental Impact Statement. There will be no requirement for the City to repay federal funds used in the Salem River Crossing project.

The only option to travel west across the Willamette River in Salem, is the Marion Street Bridge. The only option for traveling east is the Center Street Bridge. Increased traffic and population growth are causing traffic levels on both bridges to exceed State and local standards.

Based on 2006 traffic count data, approximately half (46%) of the traffic using the bridges originates from or is destined for points in western Polk County and beyond. The other half (54%) originates from West Salem.

Goals

The general public along with representatives from local, state, and federal agencies are working together on the Salem River Crossing Project to develop solutions that:

• Meet the current and future transportation needs of the Salem-Keizer metropolitan area.
• Are compatible with the urban and natural environments.
• Achieve broad community and regional support.

Decision points

​The Salem River Crossing Project is organized around a series of seven decision points.

1. Management structure and decision process – Completed September 2006

2. Purpose and need – Completed March 2007

3. Evaluation framework – Completed March 2007

4. Range of alternatives – Completed August 2007

5. Alternatives for the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – Completed early 2008

6. Preferred alternative – Completed February 2014

7. Record of decision – In progress

Land use actions

The City must take a number of land use actions in order to demonstrate consistency with statewide planning goals and compatibility with the Salem Area Comprehensive Plan. These land use actions are being processed together as Land Use Application Case No. CA16-04.   

Task force, Oversight Team, and other project meetings

Past project meetings are available on the project website.

The Project Library includes documents written throughout the project, for public meetings/open houses, and other reference materials.

City Council meetings and public input

August 11, 2017 (comment period ends)

• Proposed Section 4(f) de minimis determination findings for three park/recreation resources (Wallace Marine Park; Wallace Natural Area; Willamette River Water Trail

December 5, 2016 (Deliberations)

• Adopt final Engrossed Ordinance

October 12, 2016 (Joint public hearing)

• Proposed land use actions, Case CA16-04 
• Video

August 8, 2016 (Public hearing)

• Proposed land use actions, Case CA16-04 

August 1, 2014 (Work session)

• Presentation slides
• Video

November 3, 2014 (Work session)

• Presentation slides
• Video

February 6, 2014 (Oversight Team meeting)

• Unanimous recommendation to advance the Salem Alternative as the preferred alternative in the Final EIS.
• Summary of Salem Alternative and Accompanying Policy Statements.

June 24, 2013 (Deliberations)

• Presentation slides
• City Council rejected Alternative 4D as the preferred alternative.
• City Council endorsed the Salem Alternative.
• Staff report on the Salem Alternative.

May 13, 2013 (Public hearing)

• Presentation slides

April 22, 2013 (Public hearing)

• Presentation slides

April 8, 2013 (Consent agenda staff report)

• Staff report

February 19, 2013 (Field trip and work session)

• Field Trip Handout (Excerpts from Visual Resources Technical Report, CH2M Hill, March 2012)
• A Mission Street Retrospective, Richard Schmid, Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments
• Flip Chart Notes 

January 22, 2013 (Work Session)

• State of Oregon, Office of Economic Analysis, Population Forecasts - Polk County
• Salem Weekly Article, January 9, 2013
• Regional Transportation Systems Plan, 2011-2035, Appendix A, Population and Employment Forecasts
• Projected PM Peak-Hour Volume on Center and Marion Street Bridges (2031)
• Aerial visualization of Alternative 4A, looking west
• Aerial visualization of Alternative 4D, looking south
• Aerial visualization of Alternative 4, including north Salem
• Aerial visualization of Alternative 4D, Wallace Marine Park
• Aerial visualization of Alternative 4D, Edgewater
• Figures showing details of Alternatives 4A and 4D (excerpt from Draft EIS)
• Flip Chart Notes (January 22, 2013)

December 17, 2012 (Work Session)

• Presentation slides from Mike Jaffe, SKATS
• Presentation slides from Dave Simmons, CH2M Hill
• Hand-out Bridge Facts: Travel Volumes, Population Changes
• Flip Chart Notes

November 28, 2012 (Work Session)

• Flip Chart Notes

November 5, 2012 (Public Hearing)

• Written testimony received November 1-5, 2012
• Written testimony received November 6-30, 2012
• Written testimony received December 1-10, 2012
• Written testimony received after the December 10, 2012, deadline

September 24, 2012 (Information Report)

• Report presented September 24, 2012

August 23, 2012 (Task force presentation to Oversight Team)

• Task Force Feedback on Alternatives
• Summary of Project Task Force Alternatives Dismissal

July 9, 2012 (Work Session)

April 20, 2012 (60-day public comment period starts for Draft EIS)

February 13, 2012 (Information Report)

June 28, 2010 (Amendment to Intergovernmental Agreement)

February 8, 2010 (Work Session)

September 28, 2009 (Work Session on Salem River Crossing Alternate Modes Study)

February 25, 2008 ( Work Session)

June 25, 2007 (Work Session)

January 8, 2007 (Work Session)

The following documents provide additional information about the project:

• Tolling, funding, general and Salem Alternative questions and answers on the project page.
• City of Salem staff responses to frequently asked questions.
• Clarifications and corrections to the Draft EIS regarding the potential impacts to Pioneer Village.
• A flow chart of the City Council role in selecting a preferred alternative for the Salem River Crossing project.