Cascadia High-Speed Rail Secures $49.7 Million Grant

 Portland-Vancouver high-speed rail inches forward

The dream of a high-speed rail line connecting Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC, is moving closer to reality. A recent $49.7 million federal grant has been awarded to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to study the feasibility of this ambitious project. This marks a significant step forward for the Cascadia high-speed rail line.

I have travelled on the existing Amrak line from Seattle to Vancouver and truly is one of the most scenic trips you can go on. It is doubtful for a number of reasons that is the line the future high-speed rail line would take.

Riding the Amtrak Cascades train is a scenic trip and well worth it!

Key Points

• Federal Funding: The $49.7 million grant comes from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Program. The Washington Legislature is also contributing $5.5 million in matching funds, bringing the total to $55.2 million.
• Project Goals: The proposed rail line aims to connect the major population centres of the Pacific Northwest with high-speed train service reaching up to 250 mph. This would significantly reduce travel times between cities. The project is also intended to reduce emissions and improve quality of life.
• Current Limitations: The existing Amtrak Cascades line, which follows a similar route, is limited to a maximum speed of 79 mph due to shared tracks with freight trains. The new high-speed line would use dedicated tracks designed for high speeds and reserved exclusively for passenger rail.
• Route Planning: The funding will support "technical planning across the Cascadia region," including engagement with communities and exploring potential route options. This includes route planning, identification of capital projects and community outreach.
• Economic Impact: The project is expected to create jobs and stimulate long-term economic growth in the Pacific Northwest. It could potentially create around 200,000 jobs.
• Environmental Benefits: The high-speed rail line could cut at least 6 million metric tons of carbon in the region.
• Projected Growth: The region's projected population growth over the next 25 years is a key reason for moving forward with the concept. The Cascadia corridor is home to 10 million people and is still growing.
• Political Support: The grant was announced in a joint news release by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, and British Columbia Premier David Eby. Several members of Washington's congressional delegation have also expressed support for the project, highlighting its importance for the region.

Challenges and Future Steps

While the grant is a major step, the project is still in its early planning stages. The construction costs are likely to be in the tens of billions of dollars. The funding will be used to complete Step 2 of the Corridor ID program, which involves route planning, identification of capital projects and community outreach. I am interested in the route selected. I would imagine the original route would stay for the existing train and a new route would be recommended for most of the high-speed train route.

Sources

Lawmakers announce high-speed rail to link Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, BC - KPTV

High-speed rail project connecting Portland to Seattle, Vancouver B.C. makes headway - KOIN.com

Portland-Seattle-Vancouver high-speed rail idea lands $49.7 million federal grant - KGW

Cascadia High-Speed Rail Project gets green light with $49.7M funding from U.S. DOT