Pacific Northwest bullet train is starting to receive some funding
Written by RT&S Staff
A bullet train connecting Portland, Ore., to Vancouver, British Columbia, is being talked about in the Washington state legislature.
David C. Lester
A bullet train serving the Pacific Northwest just got a pile of cash stuffed in the holster.
There is now $150 million included in the state of Washington’s transportation infrastructure package that supports ultra-high-speed rail, and the hope is to receive four times as much in financial support from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. With U.S. DOT assistance that equals about $750 million, the Cascadia bullet train connecting Portland, Ore., Seattle, and Vancouver, Canada, would be one step closer to becoming a reality.
However, the funding gap would still be great. A feasibility study marked the cost of a high-speed train between Portland and Vancouver at between $24 billion and $42 billion depending on how much tunneling would be involved. In addition, the $150 million stashed away by the Washington state legislature cannot be used unless there is a federal match. The Washington state budget also includes $4 million in taxpayer money to continue planning ultra-high-speed rail as long as Oregon and British Columbia make meaningful financial contributions to the Cascadia line.
The Cascadia train could reach speeds of up to 250 mph, but plans call for its own dedicated track. That wish is jacking up the cost of the project.
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