Imagine a 10-minute connection between Tacoma and Everett to Seattle, or an easy trip from Spokane or Seattle to wine country, Olympia to Portland in 20 minutes! Imagine maintaining that after 30% population growth in 20 years. That’s all possible.

The Washington State Legislature is considering a two-year transportation funding bill which could initiate a detailed study of high-speed ground rail in the Cascadia megaregion.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee is requesting $3.6 million for the study in order to develop a comprehensive business-case analysis for high-speed rail between Vancouver, British Columbia and Portland, Oregon, with stops in Seattle and other large cities along the way. As proposed, the study would be completed by mid-2019 and could inform next steps in planning and funding this kind of transportation investment.

We believe that it is vitally important that the study be fully funded in this year's budget at the requested budget levels to properly conduct an investment grade study. So far, the House of Representatives has only proposed $900,000 in direct funding while the Senate has not identified any state funding for the effort.

Help us get this study funded by co-signing a letter to state legislators today. You can also join our coalition to help realize Cascadia-wide high-speed rail. Find us online, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.