Projects

Cascades Corridor High Speed Rail
Incremental Progress

Americans are beginning to look with envy as Europe and Asia continue to build trains capable of hundreds of miles per hour, carrying millions of riders per year, with few greenhouse emissions, and saving precious fossil fuel for future generations.

President Obama has re-focused our transportation priorities to include the logical conclusions of the rest of the world -- that high speed rail (HSR) development is in our national interest. Without getting stuck on details in this article, the choices are two. Propose a HSR system with its own right of way and latest technology, like maglev, or build upon our existing rail infrastructure to achieve HSR that competes well with airline and interstate travel modes in specific markets. Of course maglev is superior to trains traveling at 110 mph, but the big question is this – does the 10 times the cost price tag justify the increased ridership in a particular situation? Washington and Oregon have concluded over the years that a more practical approach was incremental HSR, in other words gradually deploying a system that competes well in a defined corridor. That corridor is identified as the Cascade Corridor, paralleling Interstate 5 between Eugene, OR, and Vancouver BC and home to 7 million people.

Both Washington and Oregon DOT’s have cooperated since the early 90’s to study, define, and build HSR along the Cascade Corridor, at a time when federal funding was drying up at a rapid pace. Both states have put their money where their mouths are, and as funds allowed, bought Talgo Tilt trains (shown above), capable of 125 mph, improving track and signal systems, refurbishing rail stations along the way, and providing the operating funds to support the endeavor.

The results since service began in 1999 has been impressive, to say the least.
Seattle to Portland travelers choose rail over planes by more than two to one.
Ridership in the corridor continues to grow at double-digit rates.
Fuel economy of the train, per passenger mile are double that of cars or planes.
CO2 emissions on our trains are less than half of either cars or planes.

What makes this even more impressive is that our 125 mph trainsets are still limited to just 79 mph due to needed safety improvements mandated by the federal government. Washington State has an adopted plan with specific engineering for further system improvements to rolling stock, track, signal, stations, and safety that allow the Cascade Corridor to really blossom into a world class HSR system in just years, not decades. Several web links posted at the end of this article point to the details.

Ridership would triple in the next decade. Travel times would be reduced by more than 50%. On-time performance, due mainly to congestion of freight movements in the corridor could be improved from the current 60% to 97%. Further fuel economies and greenhouse gas improvements come with next generation engine replacements.

And the final crowning jewel to all this good news is this: When completed, the system would be operationally self sustaining – with little or no taxpayer support.
The Cascade Corridor can serve as a blue print for other states wishing to enter the HSR arena, or at least those states that can’t justify the huge expense of dedicated, grade separated right of way and unique equipment.

Links:

WSDOT Mid Range Plan, Dec 2008

Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Eastside Line
An opportunity for better transportation and recreation.

The 45 mile rail line linking Snohomish, Redmond, and Renton is under threat of removal. Our region needs more rail and train options as part of a balanced transportation system that provides us with attractive alternatives to more automobile congestion and dependence. Train can move people and cargo using far fewer resources and generating much less pollution. No other means of transportation can carry so much, using so little energy and space, while producing so little pollution and greenhouse gasses.

Our choice here should not be Trains or Trails. It needs to be both. Trains and bikes can safely share the same routes, but trains need fairly straight routes to run. Bike trails don’t, so the rails must stay where they are.

Let your city, port, and county officials know that you want more than just a trail through the Eastside, you want both Trains AND a Trail.

» Eastside Rail Flyer (Printable PDF)

(Click images above to view larger)

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