Project status: Completed
The Cascade Gateway Rail Study’s examined freight and passenger cross-border rail traffic which could be attracted to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail line over the next 10 years.
The study area focused on rail crossing the Cascade Gateway along the primary Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway parallel to Interstate 5, and the secondary rail line east near WA State Route 9.
As roadway congestion worsens on the travel corridor between Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia, interest has grown in improving the corridor’s rail systems so that rail can increasingly serve significant shares of passenger and freight travel demand.
The Cascade Gateway Rail Study’s purpose was to identify the freight and passenger rail traffic which could be attracted to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail line over the next 10 years, determine the minimum capacity improvements needed to handle this traffic, and quanitfy economic and societal benefits of diversions to rail for investment purposes. Secondary objectives included an assessment of the potential of a cross-border commuter rail service running between Bellingham, WA and downtown Vancouver, BC, and to assess the potential of a Scott Road Amtrak station in Surrey, BC.
The findings from the study produced recommendations in a final report which included pursuing the extension of the Amtrak Cascades train from Bellingham to Vancouver (completed); and studying the feasibility of eliminating all vertical clearance obstructions for high cube double-stack trains on the main line. The study determined no need for a commuter rail service between Bellingham and Vancouver (at either Pacific Central Station or Waterfront Station).
The project cost $131,270 (USD). Funding partners included:
U.S. Federal Highway Administration
WA State Department of Transportation
B.C. Province
Contact Melissa Fanucci, Principal Planner, Whatcom Council of Governments by email or phone (360-685-8385).