TRANSPORTATION
The transportation working group focuses on the infrastructure of our major corridors and gateways, with a special interest on border infrastructure. It is currently working to improve the Northwest Rail System through the Stimulus Package and examining future transportation investments.

This working group commits to:
  • Identify the driving forces of cross-border economic prosperity including workforce, infrastructure, mid-market business' market share, harmonized regulations, and international trade.
  • Organize an Oil Train Safety Symposium for March 2016 based on action items developed from our annual PNWER Summit in Big Sky, Montana. This symposium will provide a comprehensive overview of current and emerging issues regarding oil by freight rail transportation to a broad range of regional stakeholders, developing a common understanding of new U.S. and Canadian laws and tank car construction requirements, as well as creating an opportunity to address the concerns of emergency management officials and other members of the community.
2016-2017 Action Items
Action Item
Progress
Result / Next Step
Continue convening key stakeholders - local elected leadership, state regulators, energy producers, railways, federal government and rural communities, to share information on oil train safety and best practices. Organize a full day rail safety/rail capacity session at Boise Economic Leadership Forum and Portland Annual Summit. 
In progress
 
Develop PNWER Innovative Finance Task Force into Center of Excellence for performance-based innovative finance infrastructure. Secure federal funding through NW congressional delegation and PNWER state legislative support to match private sector underwriting. (West Coast Infrastructure Exchange, Salem) – w/ Leslie Blakey, CAGTC
In progress
 
Build upon previous successful transportation/ border policy tours - 2013 West Coast Border, Ports and Rail Tour and 2014 Border Security and International Market Access Tour by organizing a tour to the Port of Vancouver in October 2016. 
In progress
 
Follow-up work on the Great Northern Corridor by supporting FAST Corridor NW. Coordinate support from state/federal/local and private rail industry for capacity improvements from Midwest to PNW ports (patterned after Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridors Initiative  
In progress
 
Promote harmonization of oversized truck permits, size & weights in the PNWER region. Idaho DOT will share best practices with the goal of leading harmonization initiatives among NW states. Utilize lessons learned from New West Partnership between Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. Topic to be discussed at Boise Economic Leadership Forum. 
In progress
 
2015-2016 Action Items
Action Item
Progress
Result / Next Step
Idaho Transportation Department will take the lead in working with Federal Highway Administration to request grant funding to allow the Idaho Transportation Department to convene a public private stakeholder group to recommend harmonization of truck size, weight and oversize permit processes.
 
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The Infrastructure Finance working group and Transportation working group will collaborate to explore developing a regional P3 strategy and share best practices. Identify a lead in each jurisdiction to serve on a task force to identify and share best practices.
 
 
Based on presentations by FRA, Transport Canada and Greenbrier Co (oil tank car man-ufacturer) with input from BNSF and CN, we propose to develop an easy-to-understand primer on developments with regard to oil tank car regulations and expedited deploy-ment. We would use Primer at two upcoming sessions:
A) WA/OR/ID Rail Caucus meeting pro-posed for mid-October in Hood River, OR
B) Oil Train Safety Symposium in Tacoma WA (Feb 2016)
 
 
The Transportation and Tourism Working Groups are collaborating to expand the “Two Nation Vacation Rail” experience by passenger and excursion rail, particularly by Asian tour groups.
We endorse: 

A) Improvements in the Great Northern Rail Corridor to improve reliability of the Amtrak Empire Builder

B) Expedited rail pre-clearance in Vancouver, BC to improve operational reliability and the customer experience

C) Continued operation of the Rocky Mountaineer on the BNSF Seattle-to-Vancouver BC line

D) Public/private partnerships between railroad owners, rail tour operators and local tourism and cultural leaders to ex-pand the reach of international rail tours.
 
 

News


Leadership
  • Bruce Agnew, Director, Cascadia Center; co-chair
  • Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho, co-chair
  • Jennifer Grosman, PNWER

Contact
jennifer.grosman@pnwer.org 
(206) 443-7723

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