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As population and traffic congestion increases, Washington state is continuing its study of high-speed light rail options to connect Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Commissioners heard an update of the Cascadia High-speed Rail Program during its Sept. 15 meeting.
WSDOT has completed the second of four phases of its high-speed rail planning process and received federal approval to begin Phase 3, which will identify potential route options.
Project Administrator Ben Tripousis told commissioners the proposed service would operate on dedicated tracks at speeds of more than 160 mph, compared with 53 to 79 mph for Amtrak Cascades trains. He said Phase 3 will identify potential broad route options for the high-speed rail system, and Phase 4 will narrow those options further and examine conceptual designs, costs, financing, governance and other requirements.
Tripousis said that high-speed rail would not replace Amtrak Cascades. Instead, it would complement existing passenger rail and other transportation options…