Inland Corridors Project

A joint project of the B.C. Washington Corridor Task Force, Cascadia Project of Discovery Institute and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region

The Inland Corridors Initiative is a coalition of local transportation, trade and tourism representatives from north south corridors and international border crossings connecting British Columbia, Washington, Idaho and Oregon between Interstate 5 and Interstate 15. The corridors are multi-modal and follow Highways 97, 395, and 95. East west connections to north south trade and international travel, i.e. Interstates 90, 84, 82 and the Trans Canada Highway 1 are also included in the initiative. Preliminary and partial list of issues identified in planning sessions since 1999 include:

Coordination of bi-state, bi-national transportation corridor planning and development of joint investments in highway safety and signage
- Highways 395 and 95 in WA and Idaho: investments under state and TEA-21 Border and Corridor programs. East and West Kootenay border/trade/travel enhancements.
- Frontier Boundary Crossing on Hwy 395 and 25 at B.C./WA border: expanding US Customs and Immigration commercial operations for local industry
- Highway 97 South ODOT designation as "Expressway" – eligible for expanded funding and enhanced interconnections with I-84 and Hwy 395
- Highway 97 North: Trans-Canada to Interstate 90-designation as a strategic freight corridor for WSDOT and B.C. Ministry of Transport and Highways
Enhancement of rural economic development through expanded intermodal connections between airports, highways, freight and passenger rail, intercity coach and local transit and the Columbia Snake River transportation system
Encouragement of retention of short haul rail line capacity to provide agricultural product access to Class I rail lines
Promotion of two-nation/three nation vacation marketing opportunities, i.e. local tour books linked to state/provincial websites and Indian nation initiatives - highlighting wineries, ski, golf, RV travel, gaming, boating, native heritage, western culture and parks
- Expand bi-state, bi-national partnerships, modeled after successful Lewis and Clark Trail, Scenic Byways program and the International Selkirk Loop
- Explore "High Desert Highway" tour book for Highway 97 linking Okanagan Valley, B.C., to North Central WA locally and the Columbia River Basin, Central Oregon and Crater Lake area regionally

The results of the Post Falls, Idaho PNWER session will be incorporated into a preliminary business plan to be submitted to Governor Locke, Premier Dosanjh, Governor Kitzhaber and Governor Kempthorne.