Cascadia High Speed Rail Authority Has its First Funding

Stephen Fesler reports on the transportation spending approved by the Washington State Legislature at the conclusion of its 2019 legislative session.

"The appropriations bill will make $9.98 billion in transportation investments over the next two years," according to Fesler, "which is $300 million less than the governor’s $10.28 billion proposal."

A headlining inclusion in that number is up to $895,000 in funding to study the creation of a Cascadia High Speed Rail Authority, which would be charged with building a high-speed rail connection between Portland, Seattle, and across the border to Vancouver.

"Another $671,000 would need to come from other partners like the Province of British Columbia, State of Oregon, and business interests–the core high speed route is envisioned as linking the corridor from Portland to Vancouver, B.C., boosting business throughout," according to Fesler. "The state appropriation will not be released until funding from other partners is released, but it seems likely that the funding will come through."

The article includes a lot more detail on the other studies and projects funded by the appropriations bill. 

See previous coverage of Cascadia Rail on Planetizen.