he Cascadia High-Speed Rail and I-5 Program joins high-speed rail and I-5 system planning into one integrated program. This approach aims to meet future growth and transportation needs for the growing Cascadia Megaregion, which extends from the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area to the Vancouver, British Columbia metropolitan area. The Cascadia Program will coordinate with other travel modes along the corridor, including airports, regional transit and Amtrak Cascades, to plan and deliver investments that keep people and goods moving reliably into the future.
The Cascadia Program includes two major planning projects: the Cascadia High-Speed Rail project and the I-5 Master Plan project. The High-Speed Rail project is exploring the potential of a high-speed rail system to connect the megaregion. Trains could travel up to 250 mph and reduce travel times between major cities (Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland) to under an hour.
I-5 is the primary south-north route between Portland and Vancouver, BC, spanning 277 miles. It is an important route affecting regional economies, linking international markets to Washington ports, and connecting people, jobs, and goods. Over the next 30 years, there is expected growth of 3-4 million people in the megaregion.
The I-5 Master Plan will develop a multimodal master plan for the entire I-5 corridor that addresses Western Washington’s future transportation needs. It will be an actionable master plan that will help shape future multimodal projects, programs, and policies on the corridor. The multidisciplinary project team brings expertise across modes and disciplines. The project will result in an actionable investment document highlighting a prioritized list of improvements to advance in the near-, mid-, and long-term horizons. Parametrix, partnered with HDR Engineering, is leading the I-5 Master Plan and supporting the High-Speed Rail project. Our services include transportation planning and engineering, environmental compliance, land use planning, cultural resources, and data analysis
