1. Transportation Border Working Group
Amtrak Cascades
Pacific Northwest High-Speed Rail Corridor
Transportation Border Working Group
Kerri Woehler
Rail Planning and Strategic Assessment Manager
Rail Division
Title slide, optional text version
Ron Pate
Rail Division Director
Lynn Peterson
Secretary of Transportation
Katy Taylor
Chief of Staff
Detroit, Michigan
April 23, 2013

2. Amtrak Cascades Intercity Passenger Rail
467-mile corridor with service between Vancouver, B.C. and Eugene through Seattle and Portland.
2012 performance:
11 daily trains totaling 4,015 annually
Ridership exceeded 830,000
Ticket revenues exceeded $30 m
FFY Farebox recovery 64.3%
Partnerships make it possible:
BNSF and UP own the tracks
Amtrak operates the service
Talgo and Amtrak maintain equipment
Who pays:
The states of Oregon and Washington, Amtrak, and passengers pay for the service U.S. and Canada provide funds for border security
Service began in 1994
Service between Vancouver, B.C., through Seattle and Portland, and Eugene, Ore.
4,015 daily trains annually:
4 daily round trips between Seattle and Portland
2 round trips between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.
2 round trips between Eugene and Portland

3. Keys to Success Incremental approach
Adding daily service one round trip at a time
Strategic planning and project development
Seek grants and other funding
Collaborative planning and stakeholder engagement
Supportive Governor, stakeholders and legislative champions
Use of all funding sources available (state and federal)
Effective cost management
Amtrak Cascades at the International Border. June 29, AaverageJoe/Michael Chu. Flickr. April 16, .

4. Preclearance for Amtrak Cascades Saves 10-minutes by eliminating international border train stop
Results:
Reduced travel time
Improved on-time performance
Reduces risk of unanticipated delays (can be up to 60 mins)
Benefits:
Improves convenience for passengers
Makes international rail travel a stronger component of the transportation system
Supports strategy to increase ridership in our 2nd largest market
Beyond the Border: full preclearance at Vancouver, B.C. for passenger rail
I will address the following to highlight the importance of pre-clearance for Amtrak Cascades:
Cross border service profile
The challenges we face
Some of the strategies we’re pursuing to address those challenges: Corridor approach and cross-border collaboration 4

5. Intercity Rail Connecting Major Economic Centers
Service to and from
Vancouver, B.C.:
2 daily round trips
Vancouver, B.C. / Seattle
Vancouver, B.C. / Portland
*Second train introduced in 2009 to support the Vancouver Olympic Games. Made permanent in 2011.
Seattle/Vancouver, B.C., is 2nd biggest market for Amtrak Cascades, contributing 13% of total annual revenue
Estimated annual economic impact for Vancouver, B.C., is $14 million
Vancouver, B.C. (Metro)
2.5 million residents
141,000 on/offs
Seattle (Metro)
3.5 million residents
461,000 on/offs
Ridership on 2 daily round trips, 2012: 324,000
Portland (Metro)
2.3 million residents
462,000 on/offs

6. Cross-Border Service is Key to Future Growth
Strengths:
Strong anchors in population centers
Supports regional efforts to improve international travel and trade
Key challenges:
Passenger inconvenience at the border
Slow travel speeds due to infrastructure needs north of the U.S. border
Population density adjacent to Amtrak Cascades stations, 2010/2011

7. Funding Responsibilities Will Change Dramatically
Today:
Cost Sharing for ,
Based on Subsidy
October 1, 2013:
Section 209 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) takes effect:
Amtrak’s contribution to operating subsides will be $0
Washington and Oregon will assume 100% of operating subsidies for Amtrak Cascades
It is estimated Washington will pay up to $5 million more per year 7

8. Addressing the Challenges
Objectives:
Deliver consistently on customer expectations for fast, reliable, and affordable high-speed rail
Build revenue to cover the cost of operations
Grow ridership in economic centers
Pool resources for increased efficiencies
Manage costs
Strategies:
Capital improvements
Washington and Oregon corridor approach
Washington and British Columbia collaboration

9. High-Speed Rail Capital Investments Will Improve Amtrak Cascades Service
U.S. federal high-speed rail funds - $794.9 million
Supports overall program goal of more frequent and reliable Amtrak Cascades service
Two additional round trips between Seattle and Portland, for a total of 12 trains per day
Improved on-time performance to 88%
10-minute time savings
20 projects in Washington building additional rail-line capacity and upgrading tracks, utilities, signals, passenger stations and advanced warning systems
British Columbia: The province’s $67 million investment in the South Fraser Perimeter Road project will eliminate two at-grade crossings
WSDOT’s $794.9 million capital rail program supports approximately 2,600 direct, indirect and induced jobs through fall 2017
12 trains a day needed to provide a viable option for business travelers

10. Corridor Management Approach
Washington and Oregon
Memorandum of Understanding
Appointed Corridor Director
Established on-time performance task force
WA, OR, BC, Amtrak, BNSF, UP, Sound Transit, and Talgo
State rail plan coordination
WSDOT/ODOT monthly team meetings
Created and endorsed Cascades Rail Corridor Management Workplan
Work on tri-party operating and maintenance agreements is underway
Corridor Workplan Highlights
Establishes initial vision and goals to guide corridor operation
Defines Corridor Director’s roles and responsibilities
Identifies significant issues to be addressed in agreements
Work program for daily operation and oversight
Establishes framework for integrated operations:
Schedule changes
Performance measurement
Marketing
Grant applications
Fare increases
Maintenance agreements
Customer inquiries
Recommended project priorities
Identifies opportunities to include British Columbia in joint funding, revenue-sharing and decision-making

11. Cross Border Collaboration
Washington and British Columbia
Joint Transportation Executive Council, established by Governor and Premier
Current work program focus:
Joint letter requesting the implementation of integrated customs and immigration pre- clearance for passenger rail in Vancouver, B.C. per the stated commitment in the joint federal “Beyond the Border” Action Plan
Assess responses to financial operating pressures resulting from the elimination of U.S. Federal Amtrak funding. Options include increasing fares, reducing service, or increasing partner contributions.
Deliver capital improvement projects
Amtrak Cascades over the Fraser Bridge heading to Vancouver, B.C. Rog45/Roger. Boats N Stuff - Brownsville - Surrey BC. 28 September Flickr. April 16, 11

12. Priorities for Cross-Border Service
Preclearance:
Eliminate stop at the border by
combining Immigrations and Customs
prior to boarding in Canada
Unique needs for Amtrak Cascades
Well-functioning system already
in place - implement the system
that already works
Other possible focus areas for TBWG working group on passenger rail:
PRIIA Section 209 implementation and implications for cross-border passenger rail
Strategies for developing and strengthening operating partnerships between states and provinces
Rail infrastructure investments in Canada to improve service 12

13. Contact Information
For more information please contact:
Kerri Woehler
Rail Planning and Strategic Assessment Manager
Rail Division
(360) 13