Oregon

High speed rail and improved inter-city freight rail infrastructure can better unite the Cascadia region, from British Columbia to Oregon - while reducing highway congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, and boosting the economy and tourism. We'll highlight the transformational possibilities at the Cascadia Rail Partnership Conference, May 27-29 in Seattle and Portland. Don't miss it.

North American rail is at center stage on the transportation agenda. Eight billion dollars in U.S. stimulus money is kicking off a new series of improvements to the nation's rail systems. Beneficiaries could include the Amtrak Cascades passenger rail line which runs from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, and north to Vancouver, B.C.

Since 1994, Washington, Oregon, the federal government, regional agencies and railroads have made capital and operating investments of about $1 billion in the Amtrak Cascades line. Now - with President Obama prioritizing high speed rail - is the time to build on that investment. The visioning that precedes the hard work of securing full funding for passenger and freight rail improvements has begun anew. Vancouver Sun economic affairs columnist Miro Cernetig writes that the opportunity should be seized to strengthen U.S.-Canada links via improved Northwest rail service.

Additional information:

"Ottawa's Lack Of Vision May Derail Our High-Speed Rail Dreams," Vancouver Sun, 5/18/09

"Tourism Leaders Steaming Over Train Holdup," The Province, 5/15/09

"High Speed Rail: Region Should Climb Aboard," Everett Herald, 5/15/09

"Is Cascadia's Train Coming In?" Crosscut, 5/12/09

"Hope For High Speed Rail On the West Coast," McClatchy News/Tacoma News Tribune, 5/10/09

"Planes, Trains, And...Two Vital Projects To Relieve Air Traffic Congestion," Washington Post editorial, 5/6/09

"Megaregions And High Speed Rail," Richard Florida, Creative Class Exchange blog, The Atlantic, 5/4/09

"Mayor Backs Plan For High Speed Rail From Oregon To B.C.," The Province, 4/26/09

"Next Stop: A Faster Train From Seattle To Portland," Tacoma News Tribune, 4/21/09

"Obama's Rail Plan Not So High Speed," The Oregonian, 4/21/09

"Spain's Bullet Train Changes Nation, And Fast," Wall Street Journal, 4/20/09

"Rail Advocates Laud Federal Announcement," Seattle PI.com, 4/16/09

"High Speed Rail Gets $8 Billion Boost; Northwest Could Benefit," Associated Press/Seattle Times, 4/16/09

Rail articles archive, Cascadia Prospectus blog, 2007-2009

"Vision For High Speed Rail In America: Strategic Investment Plan," Federal Railway Administration, USDOT, 4/09

Amtrak Cascades Long Range Plan, Washington State Department Of Transportation, 2006

Statewide Rail Capacity and System Needs Study," Washington State Transportation Commission, 2006

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This article, published by Seattle PI, mentions Discovery Institute’s Cascadia Center: You can also learn more about high-speed rail and the Northwest at the Cascadia Project. The rest of the article can be found here.

This article, published by Seattle PI, quotes Discovery Institute Fellow Bruce Agnew: Bruce Agnew, Director of the Cascadia Center said that, in order to secure federal stimulus funding: “Washington and Oregon’s legislature should continue their strategic investments on the Cascade corridor and demonstrate that rail is regional priority.” The rest of the article can be found here.

Discussion Brief: “Greening The Highway From Baja California To British Columbia,” Cascadia Center For Regional Development, September, 2007 Cascadia Center’s September, 2007 “Greening The Highway” symposium overview and TVW video links Cascadia Center’s September, 2008 “Beyond Oil” symposium overview – program, speaker PowerPoints, TVW video (including Shai Agassi, James Woolsey, Microsoft’s Rob Bernard), links to media coverage “Columbia River Crossing: Read More ›

This article, published by Crosscut, mentions Matt Rosenberg of Discovery Institute: Matt Rosenberg, a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Cascadia Center, had an overview of the so-called Vehicle Miles Traveled tax (VMT) here on Crosscut. The rest of the article can be found here.

We in the Northwest live in a majestic place. But growth and crowded roads challenge our environment and quality of life. We need to learn how to address traffic congestion and climate change together, and to share solutions. One focal point is Columbia River Crossing, the $4.2 billion project to replace two old, crowded and dangerous bridges connecting Washington and Read More ›

This article, published by Seattle PI, mentions the Cascadia Center of Discovery Institute: The Cascadia Center for Regional Development brought experts together Thursday afternoon for a workshop on tolling and traffic management. The rest of the article can be found here.

Link to original editorialOregon is gearing up to build the biggest public works project in its history. Maybe. The state will make up its mind soon. Promise. For at least a dozen years, it’s been clear to everyone with a car and an appointment worth keeping that gridlock threatens to overwhelm the Interstate Bridge. The solution seems obvious: a new Read More ›

An editorial yesterday by Vancouver, Washington’s daily newspaper, The Columbian, celebrates support voiced during a Portland-region visit last week by U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, U.S. House Transportation Committee Chairman, for the I-5 Columbia Crossing bridge improvement project. It’s a major regional priority due to congestion and safety problems on the current I-5 Interstate Bridge connecting Clark County, Washington and Portland, Read More ›