Everett Could See High-Speed Rail Stop
Planning is underway for a proposed high-speed rail corridor intended to link Portland, Oregon, with Vancouver, British Columbia. Officials confirmed during a virtual meeting on Monday that the project remains in its earliest stages and that a station could eventually be established in or near Everett.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), in conjunction with transportation agencies in Oregon and British Columbia, is currently developing a service development plan. This document, which is expected to be finished in approximately two years, will outline potential routes, station areas, and funding mechanisms. Completion of the plan will trigger further planning phases to finalize the specific route and station locations.
Earlier reporting indicates that a 2019 WSDOT study identified Everett as a potential stop on the network. While no decisions regarding the route or station locations have been finalized, a WSDOT spokesperson has previously stated that a station within Snohomish County is likely.
To initiate work on the service development plan and a long-range initiative to prioritize improvements to I-5, WSDOT secured approximately $50 million through a federal grant late in 2024. The state Legislature also contributed roughly $5.5 million in Climate Commitment Act funds.
Ben Tripousis, who serves as the program administrator for both the Cascade High-Speed Rail project and the I-5 long-range plan, addressed the project's goals during Monday's meeting. He stated that the department is working to alleviate traffic congestion on I-5 while expanding travel options between cities.
"The level of congestion on I-5 has to be addressed by expanding the travel options that the traveling public has to move throughout the Cascadia region," Tripousis said.
Tripousis noted that it is too early to estimate how long the project will take to complete. However, he emphasized the necessity of planning ahead, particularly as the population within the Cascadia mega-region, which includes the metropolitan areas of Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, is projected to see significant growth over the next 25 years.
"Trying to accommodate that level of growth is an effort we have to begin well in advance of the demand that's going to place on it," Tripousis stated.
Construction costs are projected to be significant. An initial estimate from WSDOT in 2017 projected a cost range of $24 billion to $42 billion. This figure predates the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent years of high inflation affecting major construction projects.
WSDOT has not yet determined how the remainder of the project, including future planning stages, will be financed.
"Part of the service development plan will be to put together a funding and financing approach to deliver high-speed rail all the way through planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance," said Adam Leuin, a high-speed rail planner. He added that work has just begun and that by the end of 2028, officials should have a clearer understanding of the options for future funding.
It will not be a straightforward undertaking. Multiple jurisdictions, including Washington and Oregon, along with the province of British Columbia, must coordinate on both governance and implementation strategies, particularly given the region’s varied terrain, which includes mountain passes, river valleys, and urban corridors.
To inform their approach, transportation leaders have been drawing on international experience, with delegations having traveled to nations such as Germany, where high-speed rail has long served as a backbone for regional mobility.
“We’re committed to embedding current best practices in high-speed rail design and operations, while also identifying opportunities to streamline delivery timelines and control costs,” said a transportation official.
If constructed, the proposed corridor would significantly cut travel times between major cities. For instance, journeys between Seattle and Portland, or Vancouver, British Columbia, could dip below one hour, thanks to trains operating at speeds up to 220 miles per hour, according to state transportation data.
State projections indicate the system could displace between 12% and 20% of existing intercity trips currently made by car or plane, shifting them to rail.
Financial forecasts suggest the network could generate annual direct revenues ranging from $160 million to $250 million over time. Over a longer horizon, the broader economic impact is projected to reach $355 billion, supporting an estimated 200,000 new jobs.
Initial assessments forecast ridership of 1.7 million to 3.1 million passengers annually once operations begin.
Though still in the early phases, planners are seeking input from communities along the proposed route. Residents can participate by contacting the program via email at [email protected]. Additional opportunities for engagement, including a statewide survey and a virtual open house, are scheduled to launch in October.