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:

• Since 1994, the states of Washington and Oregon have partnered with the Province of British Columbia, Amtrak, railroads, and others to provide fast, reliable, and more frequent intercity passenger rail service along the 467 miles of the Interstate 5 corridor. Ridership on the Amtrak Cascades has been growing an average of 9.5 percent per year for the last 17 years and 2011 ridership grew to nearly 850,000 passengers.
• Washington State Department of Transportation is investing nearly $800 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail funds to deliver critical rail infrastructure improvements that will expand travel choices, preserve the ability to move freight, and foster economic growth across our state. There are a total of 20 major capital rail projects.
• 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.

Photo credit: Bruce Ikenberry