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| ODOT's Role |
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The Passenger Rail Program is responsible for the planning and development of Oregon's growing passenger rail service, including contracting for train and motorcoach service and supervising rail improvement projects within the federally designated High-Speed Rail Corridor between Eugene and Portland.
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| High-Speed Rail |
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Background
Although it is not “high-speed” the State of Oregon has sponsored the Amtrak Cascades between Eugene and Portland since 1994. This service is paid with fees generated from the sale of custom license plates. Current service includes two round trips per day, a two hour and 35 minute trip each way. The Federal government has recently made unprecedented levels of funding available for capital investments to improve service to “high-speed” meaning speeds of at least 110 miles per hour. Before Oregon can qualify for the federal funding, several criteria must be met including completing environmental analyses and determining service improvement goals.
DRAFT Goals
Oregon’s DRAFT service improvement goals include reducing one-way travel time to under two hours, increasing round trips to six per day and increasing on-time performance to 95%.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) held 11 open house meetings regarding Oregon’s DRAFT goals for high-speed rail between Eugene and Portland. Over 600 people attended these meetings held in Portland, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Tualatin, Wilsonville, Woodburn, Salem, Albany, Junction City and Eugene providing ODOT with valuable feedback.
ODOT received over 2,000 completed surveys on the DRAFT goals.
ODOT High-Speed Rail Open House Materials
High-Speed Rail Survey
In 2010 the Oregon Department of Transportation Rail Division conducted a survey on high-speed rail. The objective of the survey was to provide the public with an opportunity to give feedback and offer suggestions to proposed DRAFT goals for improving Oregon’s passenger rail service between Eugene and Portland. These goals include improving on-time performance from 68 percent to 95 percent, increasing daily roundtrips from two to six, and reducing travel time from two hours and thirty-five minutes to two hours.
The results of the survey can be found at: High-Speed Rail Survey Results
Next Steps
On October 28, 2010, Oregon was awarded a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to complete a federally required Environmental Impact Statement, including an Alternatives Analysis, to study possible routes for future service.
Oregon Passenger Rail EIS project
Fact Sheet #1
This grant award also funds an update to the Oregon Rail Plan. The Oregon Rail Plan has not been updated since 2001. This update will build on the recently completed 2010 Oregon Rail Study.
The Rail Division anticipates that it will take two years to complete both the EIS/Alternatives Analysis and the Oregon Rail Plan update.
Contact Kathy Holmes with questions at Kathy.C.Holmes@odot.state.or.us or 503.986.4321.
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| Oregon Federal Grant Awards |
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Federal High Speed Rail Grants
Oregon has received a total of $19.7 million in federal funds from the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program to date.
In February 2010, the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 allocated $8 billion to jumpstart the development of improved high-speed intercity passenger rail service in the United States. The Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor received $598 million. Of that amount, Oregon was awarded $9.3 million ($8 million was announced in Feb and another $1.3 million in Dec) for three projects:
- Replace the roof on Portland's historic Union Station, built in 1896.
- Conduct preliminary engineering for two rail projects to improve mobility and reduce congestion in north Portland. One at Willbridge and the other at North Portland Jct.
On October 28, 2010, the Oregon Department of Transportation received another $8.9 million in federal grants to continue planning efforts aimed at improving passenger rail service between Eugene and Portland. The grant, from the FY 2010 appropriation, will fund three projects:
- A statewide freight and passenger rail plan.
- "Tier 1" Environmental Impact Statement, a process required in order for Oregon to compete for future construction funding for the high-speed rail corridor between Eugene and Portland. The "Tier 1" will include an Alternatives Analysis to determine the preferred rail route.
- Preliminary engineering to renovate Portland's Union Station.
On May 9, 2011, the Oregon Department of Transportation received $1.5 million of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds rejected by Florida. The grant will fund the preliminary engineering to construct overnight parking track at the downtown Eugene passenger station.
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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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What is high-speed rail?
The Federal Railroad Administration defines high-speed rail as train service that “is reasonably expected to reach speeds of at least 110 mph.”
Why don’t we have high-speed rail in Oregon?
To improve service to reach “high-speed” of 110 mph requires significant capital improvement, totaling approximately $2 billion. Until recently, federal funding for passenger rail didn’t exist like it does for roads and highways. Since 1994, Oregon has consistently funded intercity passenger rail, which now includes two roundtrips per day between Portland and Eugene at speeds up to 79 mph. Now that federal funding has been identified, what seemed like an impossible task is now a potential opportunity.
What is the difference between high-speed rail, intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, and light rail?
Intercity passenger rail runs from city to city and may be high speed, and it usually shares tracks with freight trains. Commuter rail is a specific service that caters to commuters by serving several cities and operating primarily at commuter hours. Light rail generally provides service within cities and suburbs, with frequent stops. It runs at slower speeds and does not share tracks with freight trains.
How is Amtrak involved?
Created by the federal government in 1971, Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service on the privately owned freight railroad network. Oregon pays Amtrak to provide service between Eugene and Portland. This service, called the Cascades, stops at Eugene, Albany, Salem, Oregon City and Portland. In addition, Amtrak operates the Coast Starlight between Los Angeles and Seattle once a day. Although it also travels through Oregon and stops at the same station locations (except Oregon City) as the Cascades, Oregon does not pay for this service.
What is the PNWRC?
The 466-mile Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor between Eugene, Oregon, and Vancouver, British Columbia, was designated by the Federal Railroad Administration in 1992 as a high-speed rail corridor. The PNWRC is one of ten federally designated high-speed rail corridors in the U.S.
What is needed to get Oregon closer to high-speed rail?
Oregon needs a comprehensive program to enhance passenger service frequency and speeds between Portland and Eugene as well as significant federal investment in the corridor. Specific projects to improve the state’s existing rail system could allow passenger service to travel at a maximum 110 mph while also improving mobility and capacity for both freight and passenger trains.
Where will the stations be?
Current passenger rail stations include Eugene, Albany, Salem, Oregon City and Portland. Future stations may or may not include these same cities, depending on study, research and public involvement findings.
How much will it cost?
Depending on decisions such as alignment, environmental and community mitigation, engineering, etc., cost estimates range from $1.9 to $2.2 billion.
How can Oregon afford high-speed rail?
It would be difficult for Oregon to fund this project by itself. However, in 2009 and 2010, unprecedented federal funding was made available to jump start state high speed rail programs. With this investment the Federal Rail Administration emphasized strategic investments that will yield tangible benefits to intercity rail infrastructure, equipment, performance, and intermodal connections over the next several years, while also creating a pipeline of projects to enable future corridor development. This federal commitment gives Oregon the chance to use its resources to leverage federal funding, an opportunity that has not been available in the past.
Does Oregon really benefit from having a strong passenger rail system?
Yes! High-speed rail benefits everyone, even those who never ride a train, in many ways, including:
- It saves money by avoiding expenditure of billions in highway user costs, including travel time, incidents, vehicle operating costs and highway maintenance.
- It reduces carbon emissions in support of national and state policies and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change.
It gives travelers options by enhancing intermodal connections to commuter rail, light rail, streetcar, bus service, park and ride locations, and bike/pedestrian facilities.
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| Timeline |
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Oregon's Passenger Rail Timeline
| 1971 |
Congress creates Amtrak passenger rail service |
| 1975 |
In response to the energy crisis, the Oregon Legislature approves the first Willamette Valley Passenger Rail Study |
| 1980 |
Oregon conducts an 18-month-long Willamette Valley Passenger Rail demonstration project |
| 1992 |
The Federal Railroad Administration designates Eugene, Oregon, to Vancouver, British Columbia, as a “High-Speed Rail” corridor, one of ten nationwide |
| 1992 |
Oregon completes the Oregon Rail Passenger Policy and Plan as required by the legislature |
| 1994 |
Amtrak Cascades Service begins between Eugene and Portland, funded by Oregon and Washington state |
| 2000 |
Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor, Oregon Segment: Passenger Rail Operating/Capital Facilities Plan and Preliminary Environmental Analysis identifies projects recommended for improvement, many of which are completed over the next several years |
| 2000 |
Oregon adds a second daily round trip between Eugene and Portland |
| 2001 |
The Oregon Rail Plan identifies state goals of increasing the Cascades from two to five roundtrips per day and reducing trip time by 20 minutes |
| 2007 |
The Oregon legislature dedicates fees from custom license plates to passenger rail operations |
| 2009 |
President Obama signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, allocating $8 billion to high-speed rail development |
| 2009 |
Oregon conducts feasibility study to improve intercity passenger service in Oregon |
| 2010 |
Oregon purchases two new Talgo train sets for $36.6 million for delivery in 2012 |
| 2010 |
The PNWRC is awarded over $500 million for improving service in the corridor; $18.2 million is for five projects in Oregon |
| 2010 |
ODOT begins public involvement process for updating Oregon Rail Plan, gathering input from the public, stakeholders, businesses and others to help shape future service |
2011
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ODOT created the Oregon Rail Funding Task Force to recommend a funding proposal for freight and passenger rail improvements to the Oregon Transportation Commission. |
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| Ridership |
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Amtrak Cascades
2011
Monthly Ridership Reports
Quarterly Ridership Reports
2010
Monthly Ridership Reports
Quarterly Ridership Reports
2009
Monthly Ridership Reports
Quarterly Ridership Reports
2008
Monthly Ridership Reports
Quarterly Ridership Reports
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| Links |
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Amtrak
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