Cascade Gateway Rail Study
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. The study then determined the minimum capacity improvements needed to handle this traffic. As these improvements may require public sector participation, the study quanitifes the economic and societal benefits of diversions to rail.
There were two secondary purposes of the study: to assess the potential of a cross-border commuter rail service running between Bellingham, WA and downtown Vancouver, BC. The other was to assess the potential of a Scott Road Amtrak station in Surrey, BC.
Wilbur Smith Associates was the lead consultant for the project. The study was overseen by the IMTC Rail Subcommittee, which includes participation from the following agencies:
- WA State Department of Transportation Rail Division
- B.C. Ministry of Transportation
- Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink)
- Transport Canada
- U.S. Federal Railroad Administration
- Whatcom Council of Governments
- Railway Association of Canada
- West Coast Express
- Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
- Amtrak
- City of Surrey, BC
- Everson-Nooksack Chamber of Commerce
- Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council
- Cascadia Project/Discovery Institute
- Cascadia Intitute
- Better Borders Northwest
The study was completed in January, 2003.
Project Recommendations
The findings from Wilbur Smith Associates produced the following recommendations,
discussed further in the final report:
- Pursue the extension of the second Amtrak Cascades train from Bellingham to
Vancouver, perhaps as soon as 2004.
- Working with BNSF and other freight rail operators on the line, identify and
construct rail improvements necessary to support the second Amtrak Cascades train
to Vancouver.
- Study the feasibility of eliminating all vertical clearance obstructions for
high cube double-stack trains on the BNSF and Union Pacific rail lines paralleling
Interstate 5 between Seattle, WA and Los Angeles, CA.
- There is no need for a commuter rail service between Bellingham and Vancouver
(either Pacific Central Station or Waterfront Station).
- Survey Amtrak riders to determine their origin and destination patterns in
Vancouver, as well as their interest in using a Scott Road station and a SkyTrain
transfer.
Funding Partners
- U.S. Federal Highways Administration: $86,260
- WA State Department of Transportation: $13,740
- B.C. TransLink: $15,000
- B.C. Transportation Financing Authority: $10,000 (CDN)