The cities and counties at both ends of the aging Hood River White Salmon Bridge have signed an agreement to form a new bridge authority, another step toward replacing the current crossing.  The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority’s charter takes effect on July 1.  Washington signers are the cities of Bingen and White Salmon, and Klickitat County. Oregon signers are the City of Hood River, Hood River County and the Port of Hood River.  The six signers had been collaborating since October 2020 in an informal working group called the Bistate Working Group, which will continue working as Hood River and Klickitat counties appoint the new authority’s board members.  The six members of the new authority will transition into place between now and July 1 when the new authority officially takes on the responsibility of designing, building and operating the new bridge.  The board will appoint two co-chairs — one from Washington, one from Oregon — to a two-year term.  The charter gives the board wide authority, notably including “the power to impose, fix, collect, and periodically adjust the rate of tolls.”  The formation of the bridge authority is expected to aid progress on obtaining state and federal funding and building a replacement.