HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1993-065RHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 93 -355A
CLEARANCES
Initi
al
Date
Date Received in Council Office:
Agenda date
Assigned to:
'- iginator. State DOT
Division Head:
10/12
10/26/93
Public Services /Council
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor.
Purchasing/Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT
Resolution supporting high speed rail operations between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
SUAIMARY STATEMENT.- . Please complete sections of box as appropriate & explain the item below.
Related County contract #:
Should Clerk schedule a hearing? NO YES Requested date:
Amount budgeted for this item /project: $
Is it or will it be within budget? YES NO Please explain below
Budget line item number(s)-
On October 12 the Washington State Department of Transportation Rail Division made a presentation of its
posal to reestablish intercity rail passenger service in the Pacific Northwest. The Council was asked to offer
i. support to the proposal by supporting higher speed limits along the Pacific Northwest rail corridor, since high
speed travel is essential to making the rail service successful, according to the Rail Division. The Clerk drafted
the resolution for the Council to consider.
ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
COMMITTEE ACTION TAKEN:
10/26/93 Council Approved Action
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN:
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only): Res 93 -065
1 railspd.res, 10/12/93 SPONSORED BY: Consent
2 AB93 -355A PROPOSED BY: State Dept. of Transportation
3 AMENDED 10/26/93 INTRODUCTION DATE: 10.2693
4 RESOLUTION 93 -065
5 SUPPORTING COST EFFECTIVE HIGH SPEED RAIL OPERATIONS
6 BETWEEN PORTLAND, SEATTLE AND VANCOUVER
7 WHEREAS, Washington State, Oregon State and British Columbia are
8 participating in a joint strategy to reestablish fast, reliable, convenient intercity rail
9 passenger service in the Pacific Northwest; and
10 WHEREAS, the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor program has a goal of providing
11 round trips between Portland,_ Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C.; and
12 WHEREAS, train service along the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor would
13 include service to Bellingham; and
14 WHEREAS, a representative of the State Department of Transportation Rail
15 Branch presented an informational video and promotional documents to the Whatcom
16 County Council at its October 12, 1993 meeting; and
17 WHEREAS, in order to reestablish the intercity rail service certain improvements
18 must be made to the rail system between Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C.; and
19 WHEREAS, planned system improvements will allow for higher speed travel
20 along the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor, so that trains could operate safely at speeds
21 up to 125 miles per hour;
22 WHEREAS, proposed increases in speed will be brought before the Washington
23 Utilities and Transportation Commission for its review and approval; and
Rail Speed Resolution, AB93 -355A Page 1
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WHEREAS, most of the proposed speed increases range from 10 to 20 miles per
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council
supports the concept of cost - effective high speed train travel along the Pacific Northwest
Corridor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council supports the efforts of the
Washington State Department of Transportation's Rail Branch in seeking higher speed
limits along the corridor; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Council urges the Washington Utilities
and Transportation .Commission to give- its approval to the proposed speed limit increase.
PASSED this 26th day of October , 1993.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
14 LA-9 1
15 Ramona Reeves, Clerk of the Council Marge Laidi w, Council Chair
16 APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Dan Gibson, Civil Deputy Prosecutor
Rail Speed Resolution, AB93 -355A
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