SEATAC, Wash. — State transportation planners are in early discussions about whether a future high-speed rail line in the Pacific Northwest could directly serve Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to remarks during a recent Commercial Aviation Work Group meeting.
During the Tuesday meeting, member Gary Wirt, a retired U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration official, asked whether planning for a proposed ultra high-speed rail route between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle and Portland has included conversations with the Washington State Department of Transportation about a stop at SEA Airport.
Wirt compared the concept to European hubs such as Frankfurt, where passengers can transfer from flights directly to high-speed rail.
Ann Richart, aviation director for WSDOT, said the agency has had ongoing discussions about incorporating air mobility into the state’s high-speed rail planning, including the possibility of serving SEA.
She noted the current focus is on a high-speed rail alignment along the Interstate 5 corridor, but said planners are considering how major infrastructure projects could be integrated more effectively.
“As WSDOT is working on their high-speed rail plan, part of the direction is to include air mobility,” Richart said. “I’ve talked to them about looking at making …. SEA on the line. They’re focused on high-speed rail in the I-5 corridor, which leaves out all of those airplanes. But we’ve had ongoing discussions about how if we’re going to do something big, let’s do it right. We’re kind of working through it right now.”
According to WSDOT’s high-speed rail report to the Legislature, the Cascadia program remains in an early planning phase.
If the Federal Railroad Administration accepts 2025 program tasks, the agency expects to begin examining corridor conditions in 2026 to inform potential route and service options, including speed and travel times, alongside early engineering and cost estimates.
The service development plan, which is expected to be completed in 2028, will outline a range of route alternatives, governance and investment options, and a phased implementation strategy.
State officials have emphasized that engagement with partner agencies and regional organizations will continue throughout the planning process as coordination plans and market analysis advance.
Wirt also cautioned that any ultra high-speed rail system is likely many “years away,” but work group members suggested the early planning window could be a key opportunity to coordinate airport access if a project were to move forward.