Since 1994, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has partnered with Amtrak, railroads, the state of Oregon, the Province of British Columbia, 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.
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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; and public education, public involvement, and marketing activities. Since 1994, WSDOT has invested over $280 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 at Ridership and Station On-Off Information.
Will WSDOT add more Amtrak Cascades service?
The only service change WSDOT anticipates over the next several years is the extension of the Seattle-Bellingham train to Vancouver, BC. The existing state budget for passenger rail construction projects in Washington will not result in any new daily service—based on the current construction agreement between WSDOT and the BNSF Railway.
The projects WSDOT will construct over the next several years will reduce the travel times for all passenger trains between Seattle and Portland by up to six minutes, and will help the trains stay on schedule. However, it may be possible to add more trains if additional federal funds are made available. If this occurs, WSDOT will work with the Governor, the state legislature, the BNSF Railway, and Amtrak to identify opportunities to add additional daily service.
Key WSDOT Construction Projects Over the Next Five Years
WSDOT plans to spend over $200 million to support development of Amtrak Cascades intercity passenger rail service between 2007 and 2011. The projects listed below are based on the 2006 transportation budget approved by the Governor and the state legislature. Additional project information is available at WSDOT's Rail Transportation Web site.
- Vancouver Rail Project - $104 million: This project will help reduce rail line congestion through the Vancouver Rail Yard, which is one of the busiest rail yards in the region. The project will help Amtrak Cascades trains stay on schedule and allow WSDOT to add more daily trains in the future. The project improves safety in the local neighborhood by building a vehicle/pedestrian/bicycle bridge, so traffic doesn't have to continue crossing seven sets of tracks.
- Point Defiance Bypass Project - $57 million: This project will allow for the relocation of passenger trains away from the Port of Tacoma and the tunnel under Point Defiance. This relocation will help Amtrak Cascades trains stay on schedule and will cut the travel time between Seattle and Portland by six minutes.
- King Street Station Renovation and Track Improvements - $31 million: Two separate projects at Seattle’s historic King Street Station will renovate the 100-year old train station and allow for a greater number of commuter and intercity passenger trains to move in and out of the facility.
How will WSDOT improve Amtrak Cascades in 2007?
WSDOT will work with the BNSF Railway Company and Amtrak to improve Amtrak Cascades on-time performance throughout 2007. Ensuring that the trains stay on schedule is very important to WSDOT, the Governor, and Amtrak Cascades passengers.
In addition, WSDOT will continue to work with the Province of British Columbia to extend the Seattle-Bellingham Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver, B.C.