Oregon Proposes More Passenger Trains

Portland — Oregon wants to dramatically increase the number of passenger trains running between Portland and Eugene during the next 17 years, a proposal that could cost upwards of $1 billion to implement but officials say would give commuters a more reliable and convenient option other than driving. The state released its draft plan Friday to beef up Amtrak service on the route through the heart of the Willamette Valley, an area projected to grow to 3.6 million residents by 2035, a 27 percent increase from today. The draft environmental impact statement comes after six years of study, and it lands as Oregon, Washington and Canada are simultaneously ramping up long-discussed plans to create a so-called bullet train between Portland and Vancouver, B.C.