March 11, 2022
Washington State Derails On Climate – Intercity Rail Projects Get Nothing
Lawmakers in Washington State are walking away from federal dollars by not providing state funding for much-needed projects that have been long in the works for Amtrak Cascades – the state-operated intercity rail service. The Supplemental Transportation Budget provides zero for state matches needed to unlock federal funds. The revenue package is big on transit and active transportation but fails to fund the solution that could make the biggest difference for the climate. The package also puts millions more tons of CO2 into the atmosphere by 2050 with about a billion more vehicle miles traveled on the biggest planned highway expansions.
Rail can be the lowest emitting transport mode. Last year’s Climate Commitment Act was designed to provide revenue to reduce carbon emissions from transportation. But instead of leveraging past major investments in the Cascades, the legislature is opting to sink $200M from climate revenue into planning a 220-mph bullet train project that cannot be completed until long after the 2030 climate tipping point. Requiring about 300 miles of new right of way, and serving primarily the “mega cities”, the project will carry a price tag likely upwards of $50B. Land acquisition, litigation, assessments, all need to happen before anything will even be shovel ready. Backed by Microsoft and other mega corporate members of Challenge Seattle, the Cascadia Innovation Corridor project, also known as “Cascadia Rail”, appears to be bearing down on the region for decades to come. Governor Inslee, a huge proponent, will be over 100 years young when he finally cuts that ribbon. Environment, climate, public health, and mobility justice groups, along with rail experts and advocates say this project will fail to address equitable mobility, environmental justice, economic recovery, or cutting emissions from transportation in half by 2030.
Volunteers say they will continue to fight for practical rail solutions for many problems facing the region, including a massive population increase. The Pacific Northwest is one of the regions experiencing life-destroying climate impacts, though so far milder than in other parts of the U.S. Climate refugees to “Cascadia” will be arriving long before the bullet train. If you doubt, read the most recent IPCC climate report.
One bright spot is a provision that kids 18 and under will ride Amtrak Cascades for free. Kids might wonder though, how much better the service could be – the connections, frequency, and travel time – and how adults could actively contribute to fighting climate change by choosing to take the train if only service were vastly improved. It’s for them that we fight to fund and prioritize rail solutions that match the urgency of climate change.
LCW