About High Performance Rail: With unprecedented federal infrastructure funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) passed by Congress in 2021, now is the time to focus local attention and investment on a regional High Performance Rail (HPR) network. The law is bringing billions to the Greater Northwest to match state and local funding for highways, railroads, bridges, transit, air and marine ports, intermodal terminals, highway/rail intersection safety and Amtrak expansion.

Rail is a critical piece of the BIL, and the legislation will bring capital investments and carbon reduction to our supply chains, increase community safety and passenger rail services and expedite transfer of commodities to ports and global markets with fewer emissions and lower business and consumer costs. High Performance Rail accelerates partnerships with Class One (BNSF and UP), and short line railroads, Amtrak, Tribal nations, state DOTs, local communities, ports, shippers and logistics companies for joint investment. The partnerships will help eliminate bottlenecks, enhance inter- and multi-modal transfers and connections, and increase reliability. Learn more about High Performance Rail here.

Rail Summit Session Recordings

View session recordings using the links below.

During the summit the following initiatives and projects were identified as some of the top priorities for the region over the coming year:

• Short line railroad tax credit legislation in WA, OR and ID and expansion of the 45G federal short line tax credit

• The Big Sky North Coast corridor Corridor Identification and Development (CID) process

• The Amtrak Cascades CID process

• Restoration of the Pioneer line via an application for the next round of CID funding

• Reauthorization of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law