If national and regional transportation leaders have their way, high speed rail may be coming to the Northwest sometime in the future. This week, transportation stakeholders from across the Pacific Northwest met at the Metro Regional Center to discuss and draft a 20-year plan for a high-speed rail corridor that would run between Eugene and Vancouver, BC.
The conference was organized by America 2050, an organization dedicated to addressing the future infrastructure needs of a growing American population. One of America 2050's main goals is to research and advocate for high-speed rail options between so-called "megaregions," large geographic areas with highly inter-connected economies, natural resources and peoples. The Pacific Northwest is part of the Cascadia Megaregion that spans between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, Oregon.
Currently, most people either fly or drive between the cities of Cascadia, but high-speed rail advocates hope to change that soon. Although Amtrak trains service most cities in the area, many people find the trains slow, with frequent delays and disruptions in service. High-speed rail proponents seek to alleviate those burdens by developing new fast and efficient routes that could compete more evenly with air and car travel.
This week's conference explored the logistical problems that must be addressed in order to make high-speed rail a feasible option including rail upgrades, future population growth and limited funding for such projects. Participants included Metro Councilors, state legislators, US Congressman Earl Blumenauer, and representatives of Oregon, Washington and Canadian transportation planning departments.