Improvements to freight tracks, grade crossings, signals and control, dramatically improves efficient movement of goods and people.

Rail is much more fuel efficient than planes, trucks, and cars, while polluting our atmosphere half as much (EPA). This will be a huge deal, when oil starts its upward climb again as supplies dwindle. Rail can be electrified in decades to come to use emerging energy sources, further reducing our need for foreign suppliers.

WA and OR began deploying tilt trains, capable of 125 mph, between Eugene and Canada in 1999. To date, even being limited to just 79 for lack of improvements to freight tracks, our trains carry more people between Seattle and Portland than airliners. Travel times and ticket prices are competitive with planes and cars. We look forward to improvements that allow our fast trains to finally go fast.

Mike Skehan, Member, All Aboard Washington