High-speed rail plans inch forward in the Pacific Northwest

Plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, B. C. , are advancing, with a federal grant of $49. 7 million allocated for planning over the next four years. Washington's Legislature has also committed $7.

5 million in matching funds, part of a broader pledge of up to $150 million for the project. The proposed rail line aims to cut travel time between Seattle and Portland to just over an hour, with similar times expected for Seattle to Vancouver, B. C. Washington state Senator Marko Liias highlighted the project's environmental importance, asserting that reliance on cars is not sustainable long-term. The trains will operate on separate tracks from Amtrak, allowing for faster travel speeds of 200 miles per hour or more.

State officials plan to investigate route options and funding strategies, including potential public-private partnerships. By December 2028, they expect to release a phased implementation plan with recommendations for the project's next steps. This initiative responds to anticipated population growth in the Cascadia region, projected to add 3 million residents by 2050.