Intercity passenger rail

AN ACT Relating to establishing intercity passenger rail 1
improvement priorities; and adding a new section to chapter 47.79 2
RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 47.79 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) The legislature recognizes that intercity passenger rail is 7
an integral part of the state's transportation system and is critical 8
to the state's ability to meet the climate, public health, equity, 9
and mobility goals of the state as it continues to experience growth. 10
The legislature finds that intercity passenger rail is a highly 11
efficient mode of transportation that connects small towns and major 12
urban centers, and that the improvement of intercity passenger rail 13
service through improvements to trip times, frequency, and 14
reliability can enhance local economies and increase mobility options 15
for Washington residents. Therefore, the legislature intends to 16
reemphasize the need to prioritize the improvement of intercity 17
passenger rail in the state by establishing updated targets for the 18
department to use as it develops future plans for the Amtrak Cascades 19
route, and by requiring clear communication about the factors that 20
S-1171.1
SENATE BILL 5667
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Valdez, Nobles, Chapman, Lovelett, Pedersen, Shewmake,
and Slatter
Read first time 02/05/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 5667
influence what is achievable so that they can be properly evaluated 1
and, where possible, addressed. 2
(2) The following targets, with a goal of being met by 2035, are 3
established for the Amtrak Cascades service: 4
(a) Two hour and 30 minute trip times between Seattle and 5
Portland, with a minimum of 14 roundtrips per day; 6
(b) Two hour and 45 minute trip times between Seattle and 7
Vancouver, British Columbia, with a minimum of five roundtrips per 8
day; and 9
(c) A minimum trip reliability of 88 percent on-time performance.10
(3)(a) The department is required to prioritize the targets set 11
in subsection (2) of this section as it conducts project development 12
work, including for the federal corridor identification and 13
development program and for work that may be done in the future as 14
part of the federal-state partnership for intercity passenger rail 15
grant program. Project development work carried out by the department 16
must include infrastructure investments and extensive coordination 17
with host railroads, and other service partners, as necessary to 18
achieve these targets. 19
(b)(i) If the department finds that one or more of the targets 20
set in subsection (2) of this section cannot be achieved due to a 21
constraint unless it is mitigated by the legislature or another 22
party, it must provide a full explanation of the constraint and 23
detail what is necessary to mitigate it as part of the annual 24
reporting requirement under (c) of this subsection.25
(ii) If the department finds that one or more of the targets set 26
in subsection (2) of this section cannot be achieved due to a 27
constraint that cannot be mitigated, even with assistance from the 28
legislature or another party, it must provide a detailed explanation 29
of the reasons it believes a target should be modified, either 30
temporarily or for the indefinite future, to accommodate the 31
identified unavoidable constraint as part of the annual reporting 32
requirement under (c) of this subsection. 33
(c) The department must provide updates in an annual report to 34
the transportation committees of the legislature, as well as to the 35
joint transportation committee, on the department's progress in 36
working towards the targets set in subsection (2) of this section by 37
December 1st of each calendar year. The annual updates must include 38
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any information required to be disclosed under (b) of this 1
subsection. 2
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p. 3 SB 5667