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source_pdf: oregon-prosperity-council-report-june-2026.pdf
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page_range: [321, 322]
breadcrumb: ["Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback", "34. Keith Wilson (Mayor, City of Portland) & Andrew Hoan (Portland Metro Chamber) — Cascadia High-Speed Rail advocates"]
source_links:
  pdf: "https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=321"
  raw_pages:
    - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0321.txt"
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---

# 34. Keith Wilson (Mayor, City of Portland) & Andrew Hoan (Portland Metro Chamber) — Cascadia High-Speed Rail advocates

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## TL;DR  *(generated · confidence: high)*

Keith Wilson, Mayor of Portland, and Andrew Hoan, Portland Metro Chamber President, jointly urge the Oregon Prosperity Council to adopt Cascadia high-speed rail as a cornerstone economic development strategy. They argue it will strengthen Oregon's business climate, create a unified 10-million-person labor market with Seattle and Vancouver BC, attract billions in private development around stations, and generate 200,000 jobs and $355 billion in economic impact.

**Key points** *(each cites a PDF page)*:

- $55 million in federal and Washington state funding already allocated for Cascadia high-speed rail planning ([p. 321](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=321))
- One-hour Portland–Seattle and two-hour Portland–Vancouver, BC connections would create unified labor market of 10+ million people ([p. 321](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=321))
- Combined megaregion economy approaches 18th largest in world, comparable to Netherlands or Saudi Arabia ([p. 321](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=321))
- High-speed rail projected to create 200,000 jobs and unlock $355 billion in economic impact ([p. 322](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=322))
- Construction phase alone would create 38,000 high-quality construction jobs ([p. 322](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=322))
- Proposed to integrate high-speed rail with passenger rail to Eugene, Albany/Corvallis, and Salem, and with TriMet's MAX ([p. 322](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=322))
- Chronic congestion and limited intercity mobility options constrain Oregon's economic competitiveness ([p. 321](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=321))
- High-speed rail attracts billions in private development around stations for commercial, industrial, and mixed-use projects ([p. 322](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=322))

Amounts: $55 million · 10 million people · $355 billion · 38,000 jobs · 200,000 jobs · Dates/FTE: May 12, 2026 · Programs: Cascadia high-speed rail · Cascadia corridor · Amtrak passenger rail · TriMet's MAX · Parties: Oregon Prosperity Council · City of Portland · Portland Metro Chamber · Washington State

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> **Source:** PDF [pp. 321-322](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=321) · raw: [321](../../.extracted/pages/page-0321.txt) · [322](../../.extracted/pages/page-0322.txt)

Breadcrumb: Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback > 34. Keith Wilson (Mayor, City of Portland) & Andrew Hoan (Portland Metro Chamber) — Cascadia High-Speed Rail advocates

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May 12 , 2026
Renee James, Co-Chair
Curtis Robinhold, Co-Chair
Oregon Prosperity Council
Subject: Cascadia High-speed Rail as a Long-Term Economic Development Strategy for Oregon
Dear Co-Chairs James and Robinhold and Members of the Council,
Oregon stands at a pivotal moment. As the Prosperity Council develops recommendations to strengthen
the state’s business climate, workforce, and long-term competitiveness, we urge you to include
Cascadia high-speed rail as a cornerstone strategy and catalyst project for Oregon’s economic future.
This project is not simply a transportation project—it is a generational investment that will expand
economic opportunity, strengthen statewide connectivity, and position Oregon to compete in a rapidly
changing global economy.
Cascadia high-speed rail aligns directly with the Council’s charge: it improves the fundamentals of doing
business, expands access to talent, and provides a durable platform for growth across every region of
the state.
There is already momentum for Cascadia high-speed rail with $55 million in federal and Washington
state funding to begin planning. Now is the time for Oregon to engage and invest in this effort for our
future economic prosperity.
Cascadia High-Speed Rail Will Strengthen Oregon’s Business Climate
High-speed rail will link Oregon to one of North America’s fastest growing megaregions with a combined
th
economy approaching the 18 largest in the world, comparable in size to countries like the Netherlands
or Saudia Arabia. A one-hour Portland–Seattle connection and a two-hour Portland–Vancouver, British
Columbia connection would create a unified labor and business market of more than 10 million people.
This scale is essential for attracting corporate investment, research partnerships, and innovation-driven
industries.
Oregon’s economic competitiveness is constrained by chronic congestion and limited intercity mobility
options. When combined with investments in Amtrak passenger rail, high-speed rail provides a resilient,
electrified, and reliable backbone that ensures goods movement, business travel, and workforce
mobility remain reliable even as climate and infrastructure pressures intensify.

Global evidence shows that high-speed rail corridors attract billions in private development around
stations—commercial, industrial, and mixed-use. Oregon’s cities can leverage this investment to
accelerate housing production, innovation districts, and job centers without relying solely on public
dollars.
High-Speed Rail Will Expand Workforce Access and Talent Mobility
Oregon employers consistently cite talent shortages as a barrier to growth. High-speed rail would
effectively enlarge the state’s labor pool by enabling workers to access jobs across the region
without relocating.
High-speed rail is not just a Portland project. When combined with investments in passenger rail to
communities like Eugene, Albany/Corvallis, and Salem, and integrated with TriMet’s MAX, the system
would connect Oregon’s cities to major job centers while allowing people to choose more affordable
housing. This expands opportunities for residents while helping employers fill critical roles.
Younger workers increasingly prioritize sustainable, multimodal transportation. A modern, electrified rail
system strengthens Oregon’s ability to attract and retain the next generation of talent while advancing
the state’s climate commitments.
Advancing High-Speed Rail Creates a Platform for Long-Term Prosperity
High-speed rail is projected to create over 200,000 jobs and unlock $355 billion in economic impact –
supporting workers and attracting investment. Construction alone would create 38,000 high-quality,
good-paying construction jobs. Once operational, the system would support ongoing employment in
operations, maintenance, and station-area development.
The Cascadia corridor is uniquely positioned to leverage federal infrastructure funding, private capital,
and cross-jurisdictional partnerships with Washington State and British Columbia. Oregon’s participation
ensures we receive our fair share of these investments rather than being left behind
as our neighbor’s advance.
As global competition intensifies, regions with fast, reliable, low-carbon mobility will outperform those
without it. High-speed rail is a strategic hedge against economic stagnation, climate disruption, and
infrastructure vulnerability. It ensures Oregon is a competitive, connected, and resilient place to do
business.
As business and community leaders in Oregon we strongly encourage the Oregon Prosperity Council to
recognize Cascadia high-speed rail as a foundational long-term economic development strategy. This
project will expand opportunities for every region of the state, strengthen Oregon’s business climate,
and ensure that our workforce and industries can thrive in the decades ahead.
We stand ready to support the Council’s work and to collaborate on advancing this transformative
investment for Oregon’s future.
Sincerely,
Keith Wilson, Mayor, City of Portland
Andrew Hoan
President & CEO, Portland Metro Chamber

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Parent: [Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback](./INDEX.md) · PDF: [pp. 321-322](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=321)