For the Pacific Coastal region to remain competitive, we need transportation systems that will facilitate the movement of people and goods north to south while reducing the number of vehicles on our highways. Rail, particularly high speed rail, can deliver significant benefits to the region including advancing climate change goals, energy conservation, congestion reduction, and job creation for the citizens of the region.

Regional Best Practices:

• In 1999, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia formed a partnership for passenger rail service - the Amtrak Cascades service - the region's signature rail corridor service, servicing Washington, Oregon and the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2008, ridership reached 775,000 passengers, demonstrating an 82% growth over the service's 10-year history.
• In November 2008, the citizens of California voted in favor of Proposition 1A to build a state-wide high speed rail system. Funded through public-private partnership, the 220-mile-per-hour electric high speed train system will reduce the state's dependence on foreign oil by more than 12 million barrels per year and reduce greenhouse gases that cause global warming by 12.7 billion pounds annually. The high speed train project will draw upon and expand California's skilled workforce, creating nearly 160,000 construction-related jobs to plan, design and build the system. An additional 450,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created by 2035 as a result of the economic growth the train system will bring to California.