Early in 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded $8 billion to states across the country to develop America’s first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service.
WSDOT received $735 million in federal High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail grant funding to accomplish a series of passenger rail service improvements along the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor, a 466-mile rail corridor running between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia.
As a result of this funding, two additional daily round trips are proposed between Seattle and Portland, for a total of six, improve schedule reliability, and reduce travel times.
In October 2010, Washington was awarded an additional $31 million in high speed rail funds from other federal appropriations. This funding will be used to increase capacity through Mount Vernon, build station improvements in Tukwila and at King Street Station in Seattle, as well as create an integrated freight and passenger rail plan.
Washington will benefit from critical infrastructure investments that will improve mobility in congested areas along the corridor, create and preserve jobs, foster economic growth, and improve air quality across our state.
Last revised on September 21, 2011