Washington state's Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations held a hearing in Seattle to examine the future of high-speed rail in the state of Washington as well as the Northwest. Cascadia Center's testimony, done jointly with All Aboard Washington, can be watched in the clip above. Video of the entire hearing can be found at TVW.

Last year's Connecting Cascadia workshop in Portland, Ore., spent two days examining how high-speed rail can be implemented in the Cascadia Megaregion. The workshop report provides a great overview of the conference and the issue in general.

In a series of op-eds in The Everett Herald, Cascadia Center makes the argument for role that rail has had (and can continue to have) in the Northwest. The first, "Let history be our guide," describes how the region's past success with rail can and should guide its future. The second article, "All aboard together," focuses on how the region can partner -- across juridsictional and public-private lines -- to ensure a future for rail.

During this time of economic uncertainty and record federal deficits, many question why America should invest aggressively in infrastructure. The answer is simple: Whether it involves highways, railways, ports, aviation or any other sector, infrastructure is an economic driver that is essential for the long-term creation of quality American jobs.

Read the full article.