An ultra-high-speed ground transportation system between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver BC would bring economic, environmental and mobility benefits to people living in the Cascadia Corridor, according to a recent study.
Riders would be able to travel from Seattle to Portland or Vancouver in less than an hour via all-electric high-speed rail, magnetic levitation, or hyperloop technology.
The analysis looked at potential station areas, costs to build the system and other impacts, finding that the ultra-high-speed ground system would:
- Create a new transportation spine in the region, offering new mobility options for all residents
- Create an estimated $355 billion in economic growth
- Cost between $24 billion to $42 billion in up-front construction costs (2017 estimate)
- Provide between 1.7 million to 3.1 million one-way annual trips at start-up
- Generate between $160 million and $250 million in initial annual revenue
- Result in a reduction of 6 million metric tons of carbon emissions in the first 40 years
The Ultra-High-Speed Ground Transportation Business Case Analysis study was funded by the states of Washington and Oregon, the province of British Columbia, and Microsoft. It expands on a 2017-2018 preliminary examination of high-speed ground transportation in the corridor.
The exact route and type of ultra-high-speed transportation have not been decided yet and would require more analysis. In all scenarios, trips would include a stop in greater Vancouver, BC, the Seattle metro area and Portland.
Some trips also may include additional stops in other cities, including Surrey, BC, and Bellingham, Everett, Bellevue/Redmond, Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia, and Kelso/Longview.
Learn more about the Ultra-High-Speed Ground Transportation study here.