Passenger Trains > OT: WSDOT Proposes Expansion Path for Washington’s IntercityBus

https://www.theurbanist.org/2025/01/06/wsdot-intercity-bus-network-expansion/

Delete "Bus" and add "Rail." That would be nice, but it seems
WSDOT is perhaps more bus and highway oriented than passenger rail?

Sadly, for eastern Washington at least, buses now appear to be the only way to go when it comes to expanding ground transportation.  This is because of what one consultant says is at least a 100-million-dollar bill to get the ex-NP Stampede Pass route between Auburn and the Tri-Cities back in shape for passengers service, installation of PTC being a large share of that, for at least a 5 1/2 hour train trip that can probably be driven in under four hours going straight through at the speed limit. That's why WSDOT wants nothing to do with arranging for local trains there. There's also the slim-to-none possibility of BNSF giving up a time slot for a daytime round trip between Seattle and Spokane on the ex-GN  primary freight route now used by the Empire Builder, which is unlikely to ever be rescheduled out of its inconvenient times in Spokane.  The North Coast Hiawatha restoration effort could help, but it seems to be that's a long shot at best and at best many years away and we need something now.  Both the south line and the north line are now down to one bus round trip a day plus expensive SEA airport shuttles.  One hope is that the proposed bus plan might help fix our lack of bus stations.  For example, Flixbus in Tacoma (formerly Greyhound) is now down to a Pierce Transit streetside bus stop with no services at the south end of the Tacoma Dome Station parking garage, a very long block from the Tacoma Dome Amtrak station.  It isn't even marked for Flixbus.  This while the former Greyhound station about a block away now sits empty with its bus ramp blocked off.  

More bus than rail? Very funny!  WASDOT has poured millions into rail between Vancouver BC and Portland and essentially nothing into busses;; maybe transpo centers. About time Eastern WA gets something. A train there has always been a pipe dream. Might have been different if they voted different but will never out vote the west side of the State.
RB

Bring back the Milwaukee line over Snoqualamie Pass!!

CPMorris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Delete "Bus" and add "Rail." That would be nice,
> but it seems
> WSDOT is perhaps more bus and highway oriented
> than passenger rail?

WSDOT is the code name for Highway Department.

TAW

NPRocky Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sadly, for eastern Washington at least, buses now
> appear to be the only way to go when it comes to
> expanding ground transportation.  This is because
> of what one consultant says is at least a
> 100-million-dollar bill to get the ex-NP Stampede
> Pass route between Auburn and the Tri-Cities back
> in shape for passengers service, installation of
> PTC being a large share of that, for at least a 5
> 1/2 hour train trip that can probably be driven in
> under four hours going straight through at the
> speed limit.

I've made summer trips of over four. I won't even go up there in winter. I haven't counted since 2021, but in that year, the pass was closed 21 times.

I haven't counted since 2022. In that year AADT (Average Annual Daily Traffic) was 23000 between Seattle and Ellensburg and 21000 between Ellensburg and Pasco.

>That's why WSDOT wants nothing to do
> with arranging for local trains there.


Nope, the Highway Department really does not want to be in the railroad business (also evident on the eastern Washington shortlines the state owns)

> There's
> also the slim-to-none possibility of BNSF giving
> up a time slot for a daytime round trip between
> Seattle and Spokane on the ex-GN  primary freight
> route now used by the Empire Builder, which is
> unlikely to ever be rescheduled out of its
> inconvenient times in Spokane. 



probably true


> The North Coast
> Hiawatha restoration effort could help,


. . . after which the Highway Department will (in more diplomatic terms) announce that the train nuts got their train, now leave them alone.


TAW

Good points all.

WELL I LOVE BUSSES TO GROW RIDERSHIP , THEN SEE IF THERE IS A TRAINLOAD.  IN THE MEANTIME BUSSES WITH SEVERAL DEPARTURE TIMES SEEMS GREAT



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/25 05:42 by dan.

Coeur d'Alene,ID is a popular tourist destiny once served by 3 GL Seattlle-Chicago transcons. Now that the route has been truncated back to Spokane, I suppose it is totally off limits by bus, and WSDOT's bus tentacles don't extend that far ?  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/25 07:16 by joemvcnj.

Did this become "BusOrders"?