Since 1994 the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has partnered with Amtrak, the state of Oregon, the Province of British Columbia, the railroads, and others to provide fast, reliable, and more frequent intercity passenger rail service along the Interstate 5 corridor. The service, known as Amtrak Cascades, provides travelers transportation options for their intercity trips.
WSDOT’s Role in Amtrak Cascades
WSDOT is responsible for:
- Planning and project identification
- Budget development
- Construction project management and reporting
- Operations oversight and reporting
- Local, regional, state, national, and international program coordination
- Public education, public involvement, and marketing activities
Since 1994, WSDOT has invested over $331 million in public funds for track and signal improvements, new train equipment, station construction and renovations, and train operations.
How is Amtrak Cascades service paid for?
The operation of Amtrak Cascades is funded by passengers, the states of Washington and Oregon, and Amtrak. Funding from the state of Washington comes from taxes collected from the sale of new and used motor vehicles, car rentals, and vehicle weight fees. These funds are directed to WSDOT’s intercity passenger rail program by the Governor and the state legislature.
Some federal grants are also received by WSDOT for rail projects. It should be noted that no state or federal gas tax dollars can be spent on rail construction projects or Amtrak Cascades operations. State and some federal funds go toward rail construction projects that allow Amtrak Cascades trains to run safely, reliably, more frequently, and with reduced travel times between cities. State funds are also used for day-to-day operation of the trains.
How are the trains performing?
WSDOT measures the performance of Amtrak Cascades in a number of important ways. Key performance measures include ridership, on-time performance, customer satisfaction, and farebox recovery. Performance statistics are available in WSDOT’s Gray Notebook and within the Ridership and Station On-Off Report (pdf 852 kb).
Will WSDOT add more Amtrak Cascades service?
In 2010, Washington State was awarded $590 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds from the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program. As a result of this funding, two additional daily round trips will be added between Seattle and Portland, for a total of six; travel time will be reduced by at least 5 percent; and on-time performance will increase substantially, from 62 to 88 percent. Major construction projects include building bypass tracks to allow for increased train frequency and multiple upgrades to existing track and signal systems. Several safety-related projects will also be funded, including grade separations, positive train control, and seismic retrofits to Seattle’s historic King Street Station.