Introducing Cascadia Rail

by CASCADIA RAIL

You Deserve Faster.

A few years ago, some activists thought to start a group to urge aggressive expansion of the Seattle-area transit system. And guess what"it worked!

But let's face it. Because our entire region is popular and globally competitive, more is needed to support the growing population across the Cascadia region (combined metro populations of 13.5 million in 2040, up from 10 million today). Every time a mom or a dad spends ninety minutes on a 35 mile commute between Tacoma & Seattle, or 5 hours just to get to Portland, we know something is wrong. WE. DESERVE. FASTER. Our quality of life, and of our children's lives, depends on it.

That's why a new group of advocates spanning Vancouver, Bellingham, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, and Portland are banding together to connect Cascadia through high speed intercity transport. While Washington State has been studying this, there's nothing like a mobilized base of support across our region to help make it a reality.

This vision of Cascadia Rail is Vancouver to Seattle and Seattle to Portland connected in less than 90 minutes, and transport to Eastern Washington faster than driving. This is why we believe in it:

• It's good for workers and quality of life. Short commutes are more than a luxury; they're critical for reduction in income inequality. For those with 1 to 2 hour commutes, how about 15-30 minutes? That's at least 2 hours more each day with your family.
• It's good for business. The world economy is driven by global cities. Home to 13 Fortune 500 companies, the Cascadia Innovation Corridor will grow even more 21st Century jobs by reducing the effective distance between our cities.
• It's good for tourism. Seattle's 39 million, Vancouver, BC's 9 million and Portland's 9 million annual metro-area visitors spend $4 to $7 billion per metropolitan area and a load of local taxes. Fast, easy connections help more people see more places including wine country, Spokane and the many great smaller places in between. Fast connections mean more business.
• It's good for economic development. Disproportionate economic growth has happened in our largest cities. By making fast, convenient and reliable connections between many more places, all of our cities become increasingly attractive for commercial and residential urban growth.
• It keeps our great places great. Cascadia is an amazing place. We should experience more of it while spoiling it lesswith long car trips and choked roads.

Our goal is clear: a safe, fast, high capacity connection between Cascadia cities. Our role will be to advocate with partners to make it possible. Would you like to help make the future a reality? Then join us, follow us, and ask our legislature to approve further study of this concept this legislative session

The Board of Cascadia Rail consists of Jonathan Hopkins, Ben Broesamle, Paige Malott, Anthony Gill, and Jon Cracolici.