Kerri WoehlerRail Planning and Strategic Assessment Manager

Rail Division

Amtrak CascadesPacific Northwest High-Speed Rail CorridorTransportation Border Working Group

Detroit, MichiganApril 23, 2013

Lynn PetersonSecretary of Transportation

Katy TaylorChief of Staff

Ron Pate Rail Division Director

Amtrak Cascades Intercity Passenger Rail467-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

www.wsdot.wa.gov/railwww.AmtrakCascades.com

2

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

3

Amtrak Cascades at the International Border. June 29, 2011. AaverageJoe/Michael Chu. Flickr. April 16, 2013. www.flickr.com/photos/mikechu/5888854439/

.

Preclearance for Amtrak CascadesSaves 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

4

Intercity Rail Connecting Major Economic Centers

5

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

Portland (Metro)2.3 million residents

462,000 on/offs

Cross-Border Service is Key to Future Growth

6

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

Today:Cost Sharing for 2011-2013,

Based on Subsidy

Funding Responsibilities Will Change Dramatically

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

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

8

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

9

10

Corridor Management ApproachWashington 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

11

Cross Border CollaborationWashington 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 2006. Flickr. April 16, 2013.

www.flickr.com/photos/rog45/256066529/

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

Contact Information

For more information please contact:

Kerri WoehlerRail Planning and Strategic Assessment Manager

Rail Division(360) 705-6902

woehlek@wsdot.wa.gov

13