High-speed rail as in investment in Cascadia remains a popular policy idea, but Reece Martin of RMTransit makes the case for prioritizing higher-speed rail upgrades to Amtrak Cascades. In the piece, Martin shows how targeted investments along the 470-mile corridor could really improve speed and reliability as service frequency ramps up. Martin also calls for multiple trips per hour rather than hourly service and discusses how the Canadian segment of the corridor could benefit from more stations and major track improvements.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) won a $50 million grant in December 2024 to advance high-speed rail planning — assuming that the Trump Administration doesn’t illegally impound the funding. In 2023, WSDOT conducted a study of Amtrak Cascades service that found that 16 daily trips to Portland (more than doubling existing service) would be the optimal level. However, a state plan to fund and implement such a service plan has yet to emerge.

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Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.