The Cascadia high speed rail (HSR) project has secured $49.7 million for the second stage of planning under the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Program (CIG). This project aims to connect Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver in under an hour, with trains reaching speeds of up to 250 mph.
The second stage includes studying ridership potential, route options, and environmental factors. It will also align with the I-5 Master Plan, allowing Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to consider highway, rail, and other travel options together. The planning process will include opportunities for public input from advocates.
To move forward with this stage, the project sponsor, WSDOT, is contributing $5.6 million, which is 10 per cent of the total cost. This funding is supported by a $150 million allocation for HSR included in a Washington state bill passed in 2022.