Cascadia High-Speed Rail

Planning study news

In December 2024, WSDOT secured a federal grant agreement to advance Cascadia High-Speed Rail planning. The Federal Railroad Administration awarded WSDOT $49.7 million to develop a service development plan for Cascadia High-Speed Rail. The program will also receive $5.5 million in state match funds from the Washington State Legislature.

Timeline

2016-2028

Status

In progress

Budget

$55,000,000

Purpose

Cascadia High-Speed Rail is part of WSDOT’s Cascadia High-Speed Rail and I-5 Program to address the future transportation needs of western Washington communities. The integrated Cascadia High-Speed Rail and I-5 Program allows us to look holistically at highway, rail and other travel options.

Cascadia High-Speed Rail is a unique partnership between the states of Washington and Oregon, and the province of British Columbia. WSDOT in partnership with Oregon and British Columbia are studying how high-speed rail might serve as a catalyst for a stronger, better connected economic megaregion — stretching from greater Vancouver, British Columbia to metro Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon. A key part of that vision is a fast, frequent, and reliable transportation system that better connects the Cascadia Megaregion, and positions it for global competitiveness and future prosperity.

2024 federal grant award and next steps

The project was awarded a $49.7 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration in December 2024. The project also received $5.5 million in state match funds from the Washington State Legislature. These funds will support the next phase of work, including the technical work and community and partner engagement to look at market and potential ridership, route options, and service options. This marks the second FRA Corridor Identification and Development grant program award for Cascadia High-Speed Rail, now part of the federal funding pipeline for passenger rail development.

2025 status report

This report to the Legislature provides an overview on activities that occurred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 and describes the next phase of work. It is not a planning report subject to public comment.

View the 2025 UHSGT status report (PDF 838KB) submitted to the Washington State Legislature in June 2025.

Cascadia Program map showing the I-5 Master Plan study area from the U.S.-Canada border in Blaine to the Oregon-Washington border. The Cascadia High-Speed Rail Corridor Area stretches from the Portland, OR, Seattle, WA and Vancouver, British Columbia metropolitan areas.

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Map of conceptual corridor for Cascadia High-Speed Rail, extending from the Portland, OR metropolitan area to the Vancouver, B.C. metropolitan area.

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Why are WSDOT and its partners studying high-speed rail?

High-speed rail has the potential to transform how we travel in the Cascadia Megaregion, providing greater travel options to move more people and goods. It is intended to seamlessly connect to and complement other travel options, including I-5, Amtrak Cascades service, existing and developing regional transit systems, and air mobility service.

High-speed rail is about more than transportation. It could result in better access to jobs, affordable housing, shared resources, increased collaboration and economic prosperity. It could strengthen the megaregion’s position in the global marketplace, supporting a robust innovation economy and greater collaboration with our neighbors.

Cascadia High-Speed Rail will leverage best practices and lessons learned from projects under development in the United States and operational systems from around the world.

What is the Cascadia Megaregion?

There are 11 growing megaregions in the United States. Megaregions are networks of cities with shared economies, infrastructure and natural ecosystems. The Cascadia megaregion is known for its fast-growing economy and population. It covers Vancouver, BC; Seattle, Washington; and Portland, Oregon.

What is happening in this current phase of the project?

With funding provided by the Corridor ID Program and the Washington State Legislature, planning over the next four years will be guided by the federal requirements for the service development plan.

In this phase of work, we will evaluate key factors that affect speeds and travel times, including route alignment, number of stations and market and ridership potential. One of the key outcomes is a range of potential route options for further analysis. Specific route alignment and station locations will be identified in a future phase.

The service development plan will also help us answer several key questions about the future service, including:

What is the vision for a high-speed corridor given projected regional growth?
What is the market and ridership potential?
What environmental opportunities and concerns need to be considered?
What are the potential route options?
And, at a high-level, what are the economic and governance considerations for future phases?

Would high-speed rail replace Amtrak Cascades?

No. Cascadia High-Speed Rail would complement, not replace, the existing Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service. High-speed services, like the proposed Cascadia High-Speed Rail, can reach speeds between 160 and 250 miles per hour.

Because Amtrak Cascades trains currently share tracks with freight trains, additional capacity for passenger rail service is limited. High-speed rail would likely require new, dedicated tracks. High-speed rail systems make fewer stops and offer shorter trip times than conventional rail services. Passengers would use Amtrak Cascades and local transit options to reach destinations in between high-speed rail stops.

2016

Governor Jay Inslee and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark sign agreement to explore high-speed transportation system

2017

Feasibility study was submitted to the state Legislature.

2018

An economic impacts addendum was added to the final report document.

2019

The business case study analysis was submitted to the Washington State Legislature.

2020

The 2020 Framework for the Future report was submitted to the Washington State Legislature.

2023

Project accepted into the Federal Railroad Administration Corridor Identification and Development (CID) grant program.

2024

Federal Railroad Administration awards the project CID grant funding to begin service development planning.

2028

Estimated completion of Cascadia Service Development Plan

2029 and beyond

Future phases to be determined

Corridor Identification and Development Grant Program - Federal Railroad Administration

The project was awarded a $49.7 million Corridor Identification and Development Program grant from the Federal Railroad Administration in December 2024. The project will also receive $5.5 million in Climate Commitment Act funds as state match from the Washington State Legislature.

Climate Commitment Act

As of 2022, this study is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

2023-24 budget

The project was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration in December 2023. This Corridor Identification and Development (CID) grant award unlocks $50 million in allocated state matching funds for Cascadia HSR this biennium. Moving through the CID program will provide access to federal funding without having to re-apply and access to an additional $100 million in identified state match funds in future biennia.

2022 budget

During the 2022 legislative session, the Washington State Legislature allocated $4 million for additional analysis and development of an expanded framework for future high-speed rail, and $150 million to be used as matching funds to leverage federal funding opportunities over the next six years.

2020 budget

This $895,000 study was funded by approximate equal contributions from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Microsoft Corp.

2018-2019 budget

The study was funded with $750,000 from the Washington State Legislature and an additional $650,000 from the Province of British Columbia, the Oregon Department of Transportation and Microsoft Corp.

2017 budget

The 2017 feasibility study funded with $300,000 from the Washington State Legislature. Microsoft and labor unions also contributed funds to conduct a more in-depth economic impact study.

2020 Ultra-High-Speed Ground Transportation study report

The outcomes of the 2020 UHSGT Framework for the Future report recommends actions in three areas crucial to future decision-making:

Governance framework

This offers guidance to create a coordinating entity to advance the project beyond the initial concept phase and outlines a more formal governing model for the future.

Strategic Engagement Plan

This emphasizes the importance of:

A robust, deep, and equitable engagement approach with the public.
Tribes and Indigenous communities.
Elected officials.
State, provincial and federal agencies.
Business and labor leaders.
Advocacy organizations.

Financial strategy

This sets forth potential strategies to secure a variety of funding sources and includes scenarios for possible federal, state or provincial, and private investments that could create a complete funding and financing plan.

2020 Framework for the Future - Executive summary (PDF 7.5MB)

2020 Framework for the Future - Full report (PDF 8.5MB)

Ultra-High-Speed Ground Transportation study - 2019 business case analysis

The outcome of the 2019 Business Case Analysis builds on previous UHSGT studies conducted by WSDOT. It provides a more comprehensive and detailed picture of the wide range of benefits that would flow to the region due to UHSGT.

The 2019 Business Case Analysis builds on previous UHSGT studies conducted by WSDOT. It provides a more comprehensive and detailed picture of the wide range of benefits that could result in the region due to UHSGT. Details on the strategic, economic, environmental and financial case for UHSGT in the Cascadia megaregion are included.

2019 UHSGT Business Case Analysis – Executive Summary (PDF 388KB)
2019 UHSGT Business Case Analysis – Full Report (PDF 22MB)

Key findings of this study include:

Less than one-hour trips between each city — Portland, Seattle, Vancouver — at about 220 mph (354 kph).
Various scenarios with 21 to 30 daily round trips, with some express trips stopping at only a few locations, interspersed with others that stop at more locations.
Ultimate potential to carry 32,000 people an hour using capacity to schedule many more trains.
Estimate between 12 and 20 percent of total current intercity trips would shift to UHSGT.
Estimate conservatively between 1.7 and 3.1 million riders annually when it opens.
Estimate annual revenue of between $160 and $250 million when it opens.
Can be built within the 2017 estimate of $24 billion to $42 billion in up-front construction costs.
Estimate $355 billion in economic growth and 200,000 new jobs related to construction and ongoing operation of the service.
Reduction of 6 million metric tons (tonnes) of CO2 emissions over first 40 years and potential for zero emissions by using clean energy sources (hydro, wind, solar).