The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, December 10, 2020, Image 21

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Newspaper Page TextA5 THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020 Study says Northwest states, Canada should formalize interest in bullet train Critic points to California’s high speed rail woes By TOM BANSE Northwest News Network A new government report on high speed rail in the Paciﬁ c Northwest recom- mends that Oregon, Washing- ton state and British Colum- bia, Canada, formalize their interest in a Cascadia bullet train by creating an indepen- dent body to plan and eventu- ally build it. But a critic associ- ated with a conservative think tank responded that the region should take heed of Califor- nia’s high speed rail woes and put a spike in the Cascadia bullet train ambitions. The new study by hired consultants examined gover- nance and ﬁ nancing options. This report builds on previ- ous state-sponsored studies that asserted there is sufﬁ cient demand and a business case for trains running at up to 250 miles per hour between Port- land, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. “Creating a coordinating entity does take it to the next level in terms of the possibil- ity of making it a reality,” said Janet Matkin, communica- tions manager for the rail divi- sion of the Washington State Department of Transporta- tion. “It really is beyond just the study phase and looking at more of an implementation focus.” Matkin said the state and provincial legislatures proba- bly need to weigh in again and provide the entity’s start-up funding. The consultants’ report said one of the ﬁ rst jobs of the coordinating entity should be to select a technology for the “ultra-high speed ground transportation” corridor. The study laid out multiple options including traditional high speed rail, magnetic lev- itation trains or a hyperloop, in which passengers zip along in capsules that are propelled electrically down sealed low air pressure tubes. In any case, the aspired travel times are about one hour between Port- land and Seattle and another Amtrak Cascadia high speed rail planners are aiming for a top speed of 250 mph, considerably faster than the next generation Amtrak Acela train shown here. hour from Seattle to Vancou- ver, British Columbia. Another job of the coordi- nating entity would be to build a broader coalition of support and “ensure deep and equita- ble local engagement across the corridor.” The envisioned top speed of 250 mph for the Casca- dia high speed train project is faster than other rail ser- vices on the horizon in North America. Newly built Acela trainsets scheduled to enter service in 2021 in Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor will oper- ate at 160 mph. The falter- ing California high speed rail line under construction in the San Joaquin Valley contem- plates speeds up to 220 mph. A planned Texas central bul- let train between Houston and Dallas has touted speeds up to 205 mph. The vision for frequent bullet train service between the Paciﬁ c Northwest’s big- gest cities contrasts with the grim state of Amtrak ser- vice in the region. In Octo- ber, Amtrak cut the frequency of its two long distance lines serving the Northwest — the Empire Builder and Coast Starlight — from daily ser- vice to three times per week due to steep declines in rid- ership during the coronavirus pandemic. State-funded Amtrak Cascades service between Eugene and Vancouver, Brit- ish Columbia, has been cut back to one round trip per day between Seattle and Eugene. Service north of Seattle was suspended due to the U.S.-Canada border being closed to discretionary cross- ings. The Amtrak Cascades service maxes out at 79 mph and runs on tracks owned and heavily used by freight railroads. The $895,000 study released Tuesday was led by the engineering consultancy WSP USA. It was funded by approximately equal contri- butions from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Microsoft. Gov. Kate Brown, Wash- ington Gov. Jay Inslee, British Columbia Premier John Hor- gan and Microsoft President Brad Smith renewed their endorsements of a Cascadia bullet train. “Transformative infra- structure projects like this one could help us rebuild our economy in the short term and provide us with a strong competitive advantage in the future,” Inslee said in a news release. This latest study did not include updated cost esti- mates for the enormous acqui- sition and construction cost of a new, roughly 300-mile rail corridor. A previous feasibil- ity study in 2018 estimated a $24 billion to $42 billion price tag to build a high speed rail line on dedicated right-of-way from Portland to Vancouver, British Columbia. The earlier feasibility study determined a need for extensive tunneling and elevated trackway. The study authors lean heavily on securing limited state and federal funding to make the math work. The cal- culations also assume private contributions from train oper- ators or beneﬁ ciaries. The study said some construc- tion costs could be ﬁ nanced with borrowing that would be repaid with future ticket reve- nue. The consultants also sug- gested the states and province could levy a regional property tax around station locations to raise signiﬁ cant amounts of new revenue. Delays and mounting ﬁ nancial woes facing Cali- fornia’s high speed rail proj- ect led an analyst associated with the conservative-lean- ing Washington Policy Cen- ter to recommend not moving ahead with a Cascadia bullet train. “Based on what has hap- pened in California, you want to kill this thing right now,” said the think tank’s Tom Rubin, who speed-read the new Washington State Department of Transportation report . “You can see all the incredible mistakes that have been made so you can avoid them.” WASHINGTON — Federal regulators asked Wednesday for Facebook to be ordered to divest its Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services as the U.S. government and 48 states and districts accused the company of abusing its market power in social net- working to crush smaller competitors. The antitrust lawsuits were announced by the Fed- eral Trade Commission and New York Attorney General Letitia James. “It’s really critically important that we block this predatory acquisition of companies and that we restore conﬁ dence to the market,” James said during a press conference announc- ing the lawsuit. In its lawsuit, the FTC is seeking the separation of the services from Facebook, say- ing Facebook has engaged in a “a systematic strategy” to eliminate its competi- tion, including by purchas- ing smaller up-and-com- ing rivals like Instagram SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. James echoed that in her press conference, saying Facebook “used its monop- oly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out compe- tition, all at the expense of everyday users.” Facebook is the world’s biggest social network with 2.7 billion users and a com- pany with a market value of nearly $800 billion whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the world’s ﬁ fth-richest indi- vidual and the most public face of Big Tech. Facebook did not have immediate comment. SUNDAY MONDAY Alene (Sandy) Marie Winnett Seaside April 26, 1932 — Nov. 27, 2020 Alene (Sandy) Marie the Washington State Peni- Winnett went home to join tentiary in Walla Walla and taught reading and writing. her n ana on Nov. 27, 2020. She took night Sandy was and weekend born April 26, classes, and then 1932, in Port- helped start the land to Thelma Head Start pro- and Dale Sand- gram for the fol- ers. Her fam- lowing two years. ily left Portland Her last after ﬁ ve years employment was and she grew up at the Employ- in Seaside with ment Security her brother, Lyle Alene Winnett Ofﬁ ce from 1973 Sanders. to 1988, before She graduated from Seaside High School retiring to Seaside to take in 1950 and moved to For- care of her ailing parents. Sandy was a social est Grove to attend Paciﬁ c University. She graduated in worker at heart. She has taken care of family and 1955. She married Richard friends her entire life. Her free time was spent Winnett in 1955 and moved to Dayton, Washington. She volunteering wherever she worked at the 410 Drive Inn was needed. The list is truly extensive. The early years for the summer. She then moved to Walla were most notably spent with Walla, Washington, and the Red Cross, and her retired worked at the Marcus Whit- years she spent at the Seaside man Bar, then applied to the Museum & Historical Soci- Walla Walla School District. ety, and she was a coordina- She taught third grade at tor of her high school gradua- Paine School starting in the tion reunions for many years. Sandy spent the last 20 fall of 1955. Sandy was blessed with years with the love of her three children: her sons, life, Roger Waller, who will Scott and his wife, Linda, always be a part of Sandy’s and Mark; and her daughter, family, and is loved dearly. Sandy was loved by many Kelly, and her husband, Jeff. Sandy has six grandchil- and will be dearly missed by dren: Jessica, Logan, Hope, family and friends. There will be no services Noah, Anna and Riley; and two great-granddaughters, at this time. A private service will be held in the summer Emma and Elsie. After raising her children, of 2021 at the ocean, where Sandy returned to work at her soul will be at peace. OBITUARY POLICY The Astorian publishes paid obituaries. The obituary can include a small photo and, for veterans, a ﬂ ag symbol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9 a.m. the business day prior. Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation and style. Death notices and upcoming services will be published at no charge. Notices must be submitted by 9 a.m. the day of publication. Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at DailyAs- torian.com/forms/obits, by email at ewilson@dailyastorian. com, placed via the funeral home or in person at The Astorian oﬃ ce, 949 Exchange St. in Astoria. For more information, call 503-325-3211, ext. 257. CLATSOP POWER US, states bring antitrust action against Facebook By MARCY GORDON and MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press OBITUARIES EQUIPMENT , INC. SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS 34912 HWY 101 BUS • ASTORIA 503-325-0792 • 1-800-220-0792 TUESDAY WEDNESDAY REGIONAL FORECAST Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Seattle 47 38 47 37 48 43 Rain late in the Cloudy with a p.m. shower 51 42 Rain 50 41 Rain 49 42 Rain possible Chance of rain 51 42 Cloudy, rain possible Aberdeen Olympia 46/36 47/38 Wenatchee Tacoma Moses Lake 45/34 ALMANAC UNDER THE SKY TODAY'S TIDES Astoria through Tuesday Tonight’s Sky: The Milky Way arches from the Northern Cross to W-shaped Cassiopeia high overhead, to near the face of Taurus. Astoria / Port Docks Temperatures High/low ................................ 52/46 Normal high/low .................. 49/37 Record high .................. 63 in 1939 Record low ...................... 6 in 1972 Precipitation Tuesday ................................... 0.84” Month to date ........................ 1.03” Normal month to date ......... 2.78” Year to date .......................... 57.38” Normal year to date ........... 60.40” Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020 Source: Jim Todd, OMSI Sunrise today .................. 7:47 a.m. Sunset tonight ............... 4:30 p.m. Moonrise today .............. 2:36 a.m. Moonset today .............. 2:15 p.m. First Full 9:07 a.m. 9:53 p.m. Last Cape Disappointment 8:46 a.m. 9:33 p.m. 1.6 1.0 8.6 1:56 a.m. 6.6 3:13 p.m. 1.8 1.1 9.0 2:19 a.m. 7.1 3:29 p.m. 1.6 1.0 9.0 2:30 a.m. 7.2 3:40 p.m. 1.7 1.1 9:44 a.m. 8.8 3:47 a.m. 10:30 p.m. 7.1 4:57 p.m. 1.4 0.8 8:57 a.m. 9:40 p.m. Warrenton 9:02 a.m. 9:48 p.m. Knappa Depoe Bay Dec 14 Dec 21 Dec 29 Jan 6 8.6 2:46 a.m. 6.8 3:56 p.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:45 p.m. 8.8 1:23 a.m. 6.7 2:42 p.m. 1.7 1.1 City Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Honolulu Houston Los Angeles Miami New York City Phoenix San Francisco Wash., DC Today Hi/Lo/W Fri. Hi/Lo/W 66/41/s 45/29/pc 50/38/s 76/59/pc 42/22/c 84/70/pc 76/63/s 64/49/pc 71/59/s 50/38/s 62/50/sh 58/45/pc 53/39/s 65/47/s 48/37/pc 44/35/r 69/41/r 31/19/sn 85/73/pc 72/61/t 63/45/s 75/68/pc 52/44/pc 63/43/s 56/46/pc 57/45/pc Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice. 43/29 Hermiston The Dalles 39/30 Enterprise Pendleton 40/25 36/29 41/32 La Grande 41/25 44/37 NATIONAL CITIES High (ft.) Time Low (ft.) Hammond SUN AND MOON New Time 41/26 Kennewick Walla Walla 33/28 Lewiston 39/29 44/37 Salem Pullman 39/24 Longview 47/38 Portland 45/37 35/24 Yakima 41/25 46/34 Astoria Spokane 35/27 Corvallis 43/36 Albany 44/37 John Day Eugene Bend 45/38 38/24 40/21 Ontario 41/22 Caldwell Burns 38/17 40/20 Medford 41/34 Klamath Falls 40/24 City Baker City Brookings Ilwaco Newberg Newport Today Hi/Lo/W 40/22/c 48/39/r 47/37/r 45/38/r 48/41/r Fri. Hi/Lo/W 37/20/c 47/43/r 47/37/c 45/39/c 47/41/sh City North Bend Roseburg Seaside Springfi eld Vancouver Today Hi/Lo/W 49/39/r 45/39/r 46/37/r 46/38/sh 45/36/r Fri. Hi/Lo/W 50/41/r 46/40/c 46/36/sh 47/38/c 45/38/sh