A5
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
SEVENDAY 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.
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CLATSOP
POWER
US, states bring antitrust
action against Facebook
By MARCY GORDON
and MICHAEL R. SISAK
Associated Press
OBITUARIES
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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