Pacific NW States to Study Regional High-Speed Rail

The proposal promises a one-hour commute between Vancouver and Seattle.

1 minute read

March 25, 2018, 7:00 AM PDT

By Elana Eden


High-speed rail from Vancouver to Portland is one step closer to reality.

The province of British Columbia and the states of Washington and Oregon have agreed to support a $1.2 million feasibility study on the Cascadia Rail project, which would connect Vancouver to Seattle before splitting into branches to Portland and Spokane.

At the annual Pacific Coast Collaborative conference, Washington Governor Inslee and BC Premier Horgan touted the economic opportunities promised by the "ultra-high-speed corridor," which they said could offer a one-hour trip between Vancouver and Seattle.

Moreover, Vancouver officials unveiled a $7 billion CAD plan to complete Phase Two of a 10-year vision for regional transportation, which includes expansion of SkyTrain, a new light rail line, and other major projects, and could break ground in 2019. The vision includes extending the SkyTrain Millennium Line underground following the route of the Route 99 B along Broadway, which The Urbanist reports is the busiest bus line in North America.

The ambitious plan represents "an amazing turn of events given the failure of the 2015 Transit Referendum that lost in a landslide amidst disagreement among many in the regional Mayors’ Council about priorities," according to The Urbanist's Stephen Fesler.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in The Urbanist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

3 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

5 hours ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

7 hours ago - UNM News