Wash. state Governor budgets $1M to study high-speed rail

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Following up on plan floated by a private organization last year to build a high-speed rail train connecting Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has set aside $1 million in his new state budget to study if that plan is feasible, Next City reports.

The study would come at a time when transit agencies and departments of transportation around the U.S. are watching President Donald Trump for signs of what they can expect in terms of federal funding in the next four years.

Former Seattle Mayor Paul Schell was reportedly an advocate of high-speed rail to connect Portland with Canada’s British Columbia. The concept came up again at a conference of civic and business leaders from around the Northwest last year. For the full story, click here.