News
The 5 higher-speed rail projects taking shape in the U.S.
Washington Post, August 30, 2023
“It’s no secret the United States lags behind other developed nations in high-speed rail. More than 20 countries, mostly in Europe and Asia, have such railways, while the U.S. has yet to build its first.… Here are five U.S. projects that have boosted prospects for a high-speed rail system.”
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WA Democrats ask Buttigieg for $200M to plan B.C.-Seattle-Portland bullet train
Seattle Times, August 15, 2023
“In hopes to deliver 250 mph rail service by midcentury, the Democrats in Washington’s congressional delegation are asking the federal government for $198 million to help plan a route between Vancouver, B.C.; Seattle; and Portland. The Cascadia high-speed corridor would be faster than any trains that currently operate in the United States, though contractors are now building a starter bullet-train line in central California.”
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Plans Develop for High-Speed Rail in the PNW
South Seattle Emerald, July 18, 2023
“With a growing population in the Pacific Northwest, the call for better public transportation heightens. This March, Washington’s State Legislature signed off on a transportation milestone, allocating $150 million to a high-speed connection between Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Though this funding could reduce congestion, cut carbon emissions, and better connect these coastal cities, a high-speed rail that travels above 200 miles per hour between major cities has never been done before in the United States. How will Washington get started? How will the State ensure a successful project?”
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Tri-Cities Chamber supports route to economic growth via proposed $42B bullet train
Tri-City News, April 8, 2023
“Remember that idea of a bullet train that would connect Vancouver to other hubs in the Pacific Northwest? It’s still out there; it’s just in the early planning stages. However, many, many more decisions need to be made before a green light appears. As part of efforts to kick it into high gear, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) recently collaborated with four other organizations to pen a letter in hopes of garnering more support from politicians in Washington, D.C.”
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Lawmakers introduce bill that would require ultra-high-speed rail project to extend to Eugene
Oregon Public Broadcasting, February 25, 2023
“State lawmakers from the Willamette Valley are worried destinations south of Portland are being left behind in the planning for a future Cascadia bullet train. A bill introduced in the Oregon Legislature would require Oregon to insist that the envisioned Portland-to-Seattle-to-Vancouver, B.C. bullet train include service all the way to Eugene.”
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Oregon officials discuss regional airports, high-speed rail
Portland Tribune, September 17, 2022
“Two Oregon officials in addition to Gov. Kate Brown spoke during a climate-change conference sponsored Sept. 12-13 by Cascadia Innovation Corridor in Blaine, Wash. Executive Director Curtis Robinhold of the Port of Portland joined his counterparts in Seattle and Vancouver to sign an agreement pledging cooperation in mitigating the effects of airport facilities, airport operations, vehicle trips by employees and passengers to and from airports and sustainable aviation fuel.”
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B.C. government spends $300K on third study of high speed train to U.S
Vancouver Sun, September 14, 2022
“‘Improving transportation connectivity throughout the Pacific Northwest is an important part of our work to build a stronger, more sustainable future for people on both sides of our border,’ said Premier John Horgan in a statement Tuesday. ‘This proposal has the potential to significantly cut transportation time between Seattle and Vancouver — presenting new opportunities for clean economic growth, job creation and tourism throughout the region.’”
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Ultra-high-speed rail: coming to a train stop near you?
Cascade Daily News, September 13, 2022
“Ultra-high-speed rail is inching closer to becoming reality in the Cascadia region as local leaders push for developments in Skagit and Whatcom counties. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has been studying options for ultra-high-speed ground transportation for years, but Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau is enthusiastic about its future in Skagit County.”
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Cascadia bullet train on track for big bucks to get rolling, but big uncertainty remains
KUOW, March 29, 2022
“For more than five years, Washington state, Oregon and British Columbia have collaborated on studies of a possible Cascadia bullet train to run between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. This winter, the Washington Legislature approved money for yet more studies. But state lawmakers also set aside a much bigger sum to attract federal support that could advance the bullet train dream toward being shovel-ready.”
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WA Legislature adjourns, passing $64B operating budget and $17B transportation package
The Olympian, March 11, 2022
“The transportation budget will include several road maintenance and preservation projects, four new ferries for Washingtonians, and free fares on public transportation for those under 18 years old. Additionally, the transportation budget will go towards projects such as a $1 billion investment to repair Washington’s portion of the I-5 bridge between the state line with Oregon over the Columbia River, $2.4 billion will fund culvert removals, $150 million will fund and support a high-speed rail and $5.4 billion will be invested in projects to reduce carbon emissions and to expand multi-modal projects.”
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Highways, transit, bikes and more: What’s in the new $17B WA transportation package
Seattle Times, March 10, 2022
“The Washington state House and Senate both passed a new 16-year, nearly $17 billion transportation funding package Thursday, sending the legislation to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature with just hours remaining in the short 2022 legislative session.”
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The dream of high speed rail in the PNW may finally be on the horizon
Crosscut, November 18, 2021
“Rail advocates argue new lines will grow the region economically by providing better connections between cities and evening out mobility inequalities, while also contributing to decarbonizing the region.”
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Rapid rail for Cascadia? B.C., Washington and Oregon sign pact on high-speed transportation
GeekWire, November 16, 2021
“Washington, Oregon and British Columbia agreed to work together to bring bullet trains or other forms of ultra-high-speed ground transportation to connect the major population centers of the Cascadia region.”
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One hour between Seattle and Portland? It’s possible
Seattle Times, September 23, 2021
“The Pacific Northwest continues to grow rapidly — we’ve seen the impact on our roads and climate as people travel to school, commute to work and visit family. With up to 4 million more people expected to call the Northwest home by 2050, our growing pains will only worsen if we fail to act.”
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The Pacific Northwest, strong and free: On the inevitable rise of Cascadia
The Globe and Mail, September 17, 2021
“B.C., Washington state and Oregon share more than just beautiful landscapes and progressive politics: They face environmental and economic challenges that will tie them closer together.”
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High-speed rail is a win-win for America
Chicago Sun Times, August 23, 2021
“As three former secretaries of transportation, we believe that high-speed rail is the single most effective way to move America’s transportation system into the 21st century. A robust network of high-speed rail corridors with high-performance connections is the most powerful strategy to dramatically reduce climate pollution while reducing traffic congestion and improving intercity travel.”
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Strong Public Support for Cascadia High-Speed Rail, Poll Finds
The Urbanist, August 19, 2021
The strong poll results underscored that high-speed rail is seen as a solution for several key priorities.
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High-speed rail proponents make another push for Pacific Northwest project; poll shows voter support
Geekwire, August 18, 2021
Three of every five voters in Oregon and Washington support a regional, high-speed rail line, according to a poll released by proponents of a proposed high-speed rail system to carry passengers from Eugene, Ore., to Vancouver, B.C.
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Study recommends forming a group to build high-speed train
The Spokesman Review, December 10, 2020
A new government report on high-speed rail in the Pacific Northwest recommends that Oregon, Washington and British Columbia formalize their interest in a Cascadia bullet train by creating an independent body to plan and eventually build it.
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Report Lays Out Framework for a Cascadia High-Speed Rail Authority
The Urbanist, December 17, 2020
“We are living in unprecedented times that call on us to envision our future in new ways. Transformative infrastructure projects like this one could help us rebuild our economy in the short term and provide us with a strong competitive advantage in the future,” Washington Governor Jay Inslee said. “Imagine fast, frequent and reliable travel with the potential for zero emissions and the opportunity to better compete in a global economy. It could transform the Pacific Northwest.”
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High speed rail and hub cities explored in Cascadia Corridor study
Bellevue Reporter, September 22, 2020
A new report outlines a strategy for creating a Cascadia mega-region, complete with high-speed traffic and building up smaller cities to serve as outlying hubs for large urban areas.
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Study: Cascadia region needs to develop hubs to absorb growth
Puget Sound Business Journal, September 22, 2020
On its current growth trajectory, the Cascadia megaregion — which connects Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. — will face congestion by 2035 that resembles the current traffic in Los Angeles or San Jose and it will be less affordable than San Francisco and New York are today by 2040.
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Why Microsoft is getting behind a revolutionary plan for high-speed rail in the Pacific Northwest
Fast Company, December 19, 2019
The idea for Cascadia High-Speed Rail, connecting Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, is still in its infancy. But one of the region’s most powerful tech companies sees it as a boost to business.
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The Case for Portland-to-Vancouver High-Speed Rail
Bloomberg CityLab, December 4, 2019
“The biggest thing that it takes to get these moving is good leadership, and they have that like I haven’t seen anywhere else in the country,” U.S. High Speed Rail Association president and CEO Andy Kunz told CityLab.
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Microsoft donates $223K to finish Seattle-Vancouver high-speed rail feasibility study by 2020
GeekWire, October 3, 2019
Microsoft is determined to turn the Pacific Northwest into a connected innovation mega-region akin to Silicon Valley, starting with better transportation between the biggest cities in the area. The Redmond, Wash., software giant has already helped get new flights between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. off the ground.
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Cascadia leaders to ‘swing for the fences’ on problems facing region, world
Vancouver Sun, October 2, 2019
Cascadia conference will “hear big, moon-shot ideas, what we can do to really shape not only our own future, but the future of the world.”
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High-speed rail vision expands Cascadia Corridor options
Seattle Times, October 1, 2019
Streamlined travel would help environment, affordable housing, employment, and ease congestion.
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Washington could have fastest train line in the U.S. within 20 years
Snoqualmie Valley Record, October 23, 2018
The plan includes building a rail from Portland which would pass through Seattle before reaching Vancouver B.C. It would be capable of ushering trains along the corridor faster than 250 mph. It would be the first ultra-high speed rail corridor in the country and serve the Cascadia mega-region, one of 11 which is expected to develop in the U.S. by 2050, by which time there will be more than 11 million people living in it. If funding is secured, the region could have an ultra-high speed rail by 2035.
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New Bullet Train Could Transport Passengers from Oregon to Canada in Under Two Hours (Video)
Travel & Leisure, October 15, 2018
The goal is to create transportation options that would alleviate traffic and transit congestion and help to boost business innovation across the Cascadia megaregion (a network of metropolitan regions that have shared economies, infrastructures, and ecosystems). While the concept for the ultra-high-speed train is still in its early stages, officials hope to launch it by 2035.
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2 hours to Canada: Cascadia train would be world’s 2nd fastest
The Oregonian, October 9, 2018
As far as very fast passenger train service goes, we’re up in the nosebleeds at the Moda Center and nowhere near spitting distance of first place. We are mired in the caboose or grasping at a rope tied to the back of the caboose, belly protruding above our sweat-soaked cargo shorts.
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Proposed bullet train would take 2 hours between Oregon and Canada
King5 / AP, October 8, 2018
Officials in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia are in the very early stages of planning a bullet train that could travel between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, British Columbia, in about two hours.
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Q&A: Microsoft’s Brad Smith, on the hopes and challenges of connecting Seattle to B.C.
Seattle Times, October 7, 2018
Microsoft President Brad Smith, part of the steering group for the Cascadia Innovation Corridor, talks about why he thinks it’s important to connect the Puget Sound and Vancouver, B.C., regions and roadblocks that the initiative might face.
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