"A Cascadia ultra-HSR line, running at up to 250 mph, would take riders from Seattle to Portland or Vancouver (B.C.) in about an hour. That’s three times faster than car trips and flights (with terminal time). The projected cost is less than half the price of adding a single lane in each direction to I-5: $42 billion for HSR versus $108 billion for the new lane..."

The Northwest is a hub of the global tech sector, and its vibrant cities make tourism a bedrock of the economy. The FRA doesn't have a plan for the region, but other projects are underway.