Washington-Oregon Corridor Management Plan

In October 1992, the U.S. Department of Transportation designated the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor (PNWRC) as one of five high-speed rail corridors in the United States. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), recognizing corridor development is a cooperative effort, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Spring 2012. The MOU establishes expectations for joint funding and oversight responsibilities for the PNWRC passenger service and its future development.

The corridor management plan will guide Washington and Oregon as they implement the corridor approach. The corridor management plan will result in a documented process by which WSDOT and ODOT will work together. It is not a new policy document. The Corridor Management Plan will be consistent with state rail plans, and will serve as an element of the FRA-required Service Development Plan.

Managing principles of the PNWRC

• Deliver consistently on customer expectations for high speed rail (fast, reliable, safe, affordable)

• Build revenue to cover the cost of operations (yield maximum revenue per seat)

• Grow ridership in the largest business and population centers (provide service where demand exists)

• Provide a competitive transportation alternative (price, time, convenience)

• Pool resources for increased efficiencies (eliminate unnecessary expenses)

• Reduce costs (seek out alternative service providers)

• Partners share in revenue and costs (OR, WA, BC)

Corridor management plan relationship to other plans

Both Washington and Oregon are currently working on updates to their state rail plans which will serve as strategic blueprints for future public investment in each state’s freight and passenger rail network. The corridor management plan will be developed in the context of that broad policy framework and will be consistent with state transportation goals and it will be more narrowly-focused on management and operations. It will establish a procedural framework for Washington’s and Oregon’s joint ongoing management of the PNWRC and implementation of future passenger service capacity and efficiency improvements.

Oregon is starting a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process to evaluate alternatives for future passenger rail service in the Oregon segment of the PNWRC. The corridor management plan will be flexible to accommodate the EIS results or will be revisited to accommodate EIS results if necessary.

Corridor management plan components

• Goals – what the corridor management plan is expected to accomplish;
• Description of the existing service – a description of the passenger service, infrastructure, equipment, management, contractual relationships, and governance of the PNWRC;
• Near-term expansion – funded programs and plans to expand and improve the PNWRC, and their management structure;
• Future plans – long-term future expansion and efficiency plans for the PNWRC that affect management of the PNWRC;
• Management process and procedure – a description of how Washington and Oregon will jointly manage the PWNRC, adapt management structure to future changes, and assure transparent and efficient communication.

Timeline

The MOU called for completion of the Cascades Rail Corridor Management Workplan by January 2013. Oregon and Washington endorsed the plan on January 31, 2013.

For more information contact:

Kerri Woehler
WSDOT - Rail Planning & Strategic Assessment Manager
360.705.6902
woehlek@wsdot.wa.gov

Stacy Snider
ODOT – Rail Operations
Manager
503.986.5190
Stacy.E.Snider@odot.or.us