Washington Transit Advocates Push For PNW Bullet Train

REDMOND, WA — Despite a recent vote to roll back car tab fees, potentially slashing billions from state transportation budgets, Washington transit groups are pursuing plans for a bullet train between Portland and Vancouver, Canada. The Associated Press reports rail advocates gathered at the Cascadia Rail Summit last week, joined by state policymakers and representatives from the Washington State Department of Transportation, to discuss a $50 billion plan to build a new high-speed rail system on dedicated tracks.

According to the AP, WSDOT Secretary Roger Miller compared the investment to an estimated $108 million it would require to add an extra lane to Insterstate 5 over the same distance. A high-speed train could take just two hours to cover the route's full distance, traveling at speeds between 180 and 250 mph, depending on design.

Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Microsoft have joined forces to conduct a study comparing different funding possibilities, including the use of public-private partnerships and seeking federal assistance. A feasibility study paid for by Microsoft last year predicted the project would create 38,000 construction jobs over a decade.