With more than $100 billion of federal stimulus money being unleashed on infrastructure projects, the competition for it is heating up.
In our corner of the country, the governors of Washington and Oregon, along with a host of private organizations, are wisely rallying for a share of $8 billion the Obama administration is committing to a high-speed rail network that would connect major metropolitan areas with trains that could travel well in excess of 100 mph.
Such travel is commonplace in Japan, China and Europe. Here, it would be a major step forward in expanding travel choices, increasing opportunities for trade and tourism, and using less foreign oil in the process.
One of 10 routes under consideration for high-speed development is the Cascadia corridor between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, B.C. It’s been served for 10 years by Amtrak, and has seen an 82 percent increase in ridership in that time. In 2008 it served nearly 775,000 passengers, its most successful year yet. The addition of another daily round trip in advance of next year’s Vancouver Olympics will make the route even more popular.
Stimulus spending, of course, is intended to create immediate jobs that will help jolt a slumbering economy. The Cascadia corridor, because it has enjoyed a history of incremental regional investments to support its growth, has plenty of projects ready to proceed, putting people right to work. It also currently runs high-speed Talgo trains, which could run faster than they currently do with proper track improvements.
Stimulus money could go for building sidings, where freight trains can pull over for faster passenger trains. It could be used to straighten out sections of track, and to plan for over- and under-passes at current crossings.
Imagine being able to shave an hour off a trip from Seattle to Vancouver or Portland on a relaxed journey that takes less time than driving. Think of the addition tourism dollars that would flow into Snohomish County. Picture a future with another viable alternative to I-5 congestion.
The enthusiasm for such a future already registered by Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski needs to be matched by the region’s congressional delegation, particularly Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen, two key players on transportation issues.
None of the region’s leaders should let this opportunity leave the station without them.
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