<div dir="ltr">I am not sure how interested anyone is in this, but I thought I would put it out there.<div><br></div><div><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="3">Interstate Bridge Replacement Program</font> – <font size="4">NEWS</font></font><br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><strong><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</font></strong><br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Dec. 1, 2020</font><br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Contact: <a href="mailto:kelliann.amico@interstatebridge.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kelliann Amico</a>, Interstate Bridge Replacement Program media lead, 503-705-6203</font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><strong><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="5">Interstate Bridge Replacement Program begins recruitment for two volunteer advisory groups</font></strong><br><em><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="4">Applications for the Community Advisory Group and Equity Advisory Group available December 1-18</font></em></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">PORTLAND – The bi-state Interstate Bridge Replacement Program is accepting applications from community members interested in serving on one of two new advisory groups: the Community Advisory Group and the Equity Advisory Group. Along with the Executive Steering Group, these advisory groups will play a critical role in helping the program define a replacement bridge solution that prioritizes safety, reflects community values, centers on equity, and fosters broad regional support.</span></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Optional information sessions will be facilitated in English at the following times and dates, with interpretation provided on specific dates</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">All of the information sessions can be accessed at the following link: </span><a href="http://go.participate.online/CAGInfoSession" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">go.participate.online/CAGInfoSession</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></font></p><ul style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Symbol"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">12 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4 - Russian interpretation provided</span></font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Symbol"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9 - Korean and Spanish interpretation provided</span></font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Symbol"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 10 - Vietnamese and Chinese interpretation provided</span></font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Symbol"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">12 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16 - Somali and Spanish interpretation provided</span></font></li></ul><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Online applications</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">in English, Spanish, Somali, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Russian will be available at the following links from Dec. 1-18:</span></font></p><ul style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Symbol"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMDEuMzEzOTM3NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RpbnkuY2MvSUJSLUNBRyJ9.vYrgj38M4OvQUKo2XlpNU8CQmgmdW-1ILL4j_Qks-9A/s/814346271/br/90855334581-l" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Community Advisory Group</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Symbol"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMDEuMzEzOTM3NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RpbnkuY2MvSUJSLUVBRyJ9.pTksXzG456TShjxQdADWttwZMZBE1mou8hDH4p59ySs/s/814346271/br/90855334581-l" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Equity Advisory Group</a></span></font></li></ul><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Executive Steering Group encourages individuals with diverse backgrounds to apply to serve on either advisory group. Representation from those who experience transportation barriers firsthand, regularly use the Interstate Bridge, or will be potentially affected by the program is desired, as are community members who are passionate about social equity and transportation equity issues.</span></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Additional information about the advisory groups and application process can be found on the </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(17,85,204)"><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMDEuMzEzOTM3NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3dzZG90LndhLmdvdi9wcm9qZWN0cy9pNS9pbnRlcnN0YXRlLWJyaWRnZS9ob21lIn0.BBkilqWq1vZseGpoakfTUDP_st7frGoqCCT3Gnn7qIE/s/814346271/br/90855334581-l" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Interstate Bridge Replacement program</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> page. For more information, or to request a printed application, please call 360-905-1560 or send an email to </span><a href="mailto:info@interstatebridge.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">info@interstatebridge.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">.<u><span style="color:rgb(0,120,94)"></span></u></span></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><strong><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">About the advisory groups</span></strong></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The advisory groups are part of a comprehensive effort to actively engage with the public, elected officials, stakeholders, and partnering agencies from both states to build consensus through an open and public process. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The first meetings for both groups will occur in early 2021.</span></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Community Advisory Group will develop recommendations to shape program work that reflects the community’s needs, issues and priorities. The Equity Advisory Group will make recommendations regarding processes, policies, and decisions on program work that has the potential to affect historically underrepresented and/or underserved communities.</span></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times" size="3"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Each group will consist of approximately 30 members, acting as individual community members or as representatives of organizations. Approximately eight at-large members for the Community Advisory Group and approximately 10 at-large members for the Equity Advisory Group</span><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">will be selected through the application process. The remainder of the representatives in both groups will be appointed by a selection committee in coordination with agency partners.</span></span></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="times new roman,times"><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hyperlinks within the release:</span></strong></font></p><ul style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><li style="margin-left:0.5in"><font face="times new roman,times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Information sessions: </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMDEuMzEzOTM3NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvLnBhcnRpY2lwYXRlLm9ubGluZS9DQUdJbmZvU2Vzc2lvbiJ9.zxPXEK5pNeW-xmIXax1ai9lEnKzJ3OlP1aH7sabitec/s/814346271/br/90855334581-l" rel="noopener" target="_blank">go.participate.online/CAGInfoSession</a></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></font></li><li style="margin-left:0.5in"><font face="times new roman,times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Community Advisory Group: <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMDEuMzEzOTM3NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RpbnkuY2MvSUJSLUNBRyJ9.x69F9sG4OzY_bgRik12aHHAuL1hIyoScGaMlnD90AF8/s/814346271/br/90855334581-l" rel="noopener" target="_blank">tiny.cc/IBR-CAG</a></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></font></li><li style="margin-left:0.5in"><font face="times new roman,times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Equity Advisory Group: <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMDEuMzEzOTM3NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RpbnkuY2MvSUJSLUVBRyJ9.CafVgT0G3RwR8yqaemVY7yS7h_rGyQ3-Iocdut4BpmM/s/814346271/br/90855334581-l" rel="noopener" target="_blank">tiny.cc/IBR-EAG</a></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></font></li><li style="margin-left:0.5in"><font face="times new roman,times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Interstate Bridge Replacement Program: </span><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.oFWguKiaFXQhfZXSmXP6sd_lQMIZ7EcVILZbxqL1grg/s/814346271/br/90855334581-l" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">wa.gov/projects/i5/interstate-bridge/hom</span></a><u><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(17,85,204)">e</span></u></font></li></ul><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">###</span> </p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><strong><span style="font-size:10pt">Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information</span></strong></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt">Accommodation requests for people with disabilities in Washington can be made by contacting the WSDOT Diversity/ADA Affairs team at </span><a href="mailto:wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt">wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt">or by calling toll-free, 855-362-4ADA (4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at 711.</span></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt">For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations, translation/interpretation services, or more information for those in Oregon, please call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735- 2900 or Oregon Relay Service 711.</span></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><strong><span style="font-size:10pt">Title VI Statement to Public</span></strong></font></p><p style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt">It is WSDOT’s policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its programs and activities. Any person who believes his or her Title VI protection has been violated may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity. For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OEO’s Title VI Coordinator at 360-705-7090.</span></font></p><div id="gmail-m_3158241828909988646mail_footer" style="font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><p> </p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif">Beth Greenberg</font></div></div></div></div></div></div>