Program Leadership

Carley Francis, Interim Program Administrator

Carley Francis has steeped into the role of Interim Program Administrator. She brings more than two decades of experience in transportation planning, operations and construction. Her tenure began on Jan. 1, 2026.  

Replacing the Interstate Bridge isn't just another project for Francis, it's a deeply personal endeavor. Living in North Portland and working in Vancouver, she crosses the bridge regularly. That daily experience, she says, reinforces her passion for replacing an aging facility that no longer meets the needs of people who rely on it to get where they live, work and play. 

“I’m excited to become more involved,” Francis said. “Improving this outdated bridge is critical, not only because of the risks it poses to travelers each day, but because it no longer serves the community or our economy the way it should.” 

Francis’ professional background spans the full lifecycle of transportation systems, from planning and design to long-term operations. Her career in transportation began as a bicycle commuter working on a bike master plan and most recently serving as Southwest Region Administrator for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). There she managed a team responsible for operating, maintaining and implementing transportation projects across seven counties in Southwest Washington. She held other roles at WSDOT as region planning director and special projects manager, as well as earlier work on the Columbia River Crossing project focused on finance, outreach and project implementation. She has also held project management roles with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and began her career in public service with a focus on planning and environmental work for the city of Baltimore. Francis holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning with an environmental specialization from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in community and environmental planning from the University of Washington. 

As Interim Program Administrator, Francis will continue advancing the Program’s work to complete the federal environmental process and build a safer, more reliable and multimodal crossing for the region. 

Bi-state Coordination and Committee

The Washington State legislature established a joint committee with the authorization of Washington State SSB 5806. The committee was named the Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee. The bill invited the Oregon Legislature to participate, at which point Oregon formed the Joint Committee on the Interstate 5 Bridge. The combined committees, referred to as the bi-state legislative committee, comprises 16 members, eight from each state.  

Ongoing bi-state legislative involvement is essential to successfully complete the planning and design process and move to construction. Direction from the bi-state legislative committee members is shaping program work by providing the initial framework and guidance on the approach to developing key program decisions, reviewing and providing feedback on progress and evaluating outcomes.

Program Partners

Program partners have a direct role in any future improvements due to their position as an owner, operator, policymaker, regulatory agency or public economic development entity reliant on direct access to operations within the Interstate Bridge area.