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Work beginning on new rail route to Port of Vancouver
A big reason for this work is to keep the Seattle to Vancouver mainline clear for the increasing number of trains Amtrak’s Cascade service is operating. If I’m not mistaken, some of the money for this came from Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida which, in their leaders infinite wisdom, declined the funding. The investment here is part of the plan for passenger service here. Rather than try to construct a new system from scratch (costing bilions), they are putting the money to eliminate chokepoints and increase the capacity an fluidity of the heavily used (BNSF, UP, AMTK, Sounder) rail corridor.
There’s also the anticipation of BNSF and UP operating a countless number of unit trains carrying export coal for China.
Spending federal money DOES generate jobs. This work benefits both the private and public sectors. If they other states don’t want the jobs or business generated from this infrastructure investment, Washington state will gladly take it!
The worst part is that the tea party in Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida is probably satisfied!
WA is a heavily (west the Cascades) Deamnacrat oriented so naturally the Obamunists would want to heap their largess on their loyal but blind supportes. This in responce to Mr. Olah’s comments.
The heavy congestion and conflicts of the rail traffic is certainly accurate. It would seem that the UP and BN could pay their share plus the Port of Vancouver and Amtrak pick up the balance. Why do two wealthy railroads such as the BN and the UP need a handout?