The proposal promises a one-hour commute between Vancouver and Seattle.
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.
FULL STORY: British Columbia Goes All In on Rapid Transit, Funds High-Speed Rail Study

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

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

DC Extends Application Window for Outdoor Dining Permits
District restaurants will have until the end of November to apply, but businesses with permits in rush hour parking lanes must end operations on July 31.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.
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