There’s something about the Seattle day trip that I feel every Spokanite has to experience at one point or another. The six o’clock departure, bright-and-early for maximum time on the ground. The coffee-and-breakfast stop in Ellensburg. The dual determinations to arrive as quickly as possible and without a speeding ticket. The rush over Snoqualmie Pass and the seemingly-endless, leafy-green descent. And then the mad dash of destinations in and around Seattle.

For me, these day trips—usually spearheaded by my mother—were a fun and exciting part of my childhood, however rare they were. Now I make the four-hour drive every few weeks, though not with such a time crunch. 

The drive, while beautiful (especially in the fall), can be monotonous, slow, and sometimes even hazardous. And unfortunately, the alternatives aren’t stellar. Flying can be cost-prohibitive, especially for group travel, and once you include time spent at the airport, it isn’t much faster than driving. Buses eliminate the need to drive, but take six or seven hours. And unfortunately, the Empire Builder, our lone train service, runs only daily at inconvenient times and at bus speeds. 

The state has had on-and-off flirtations with alternatives. In 1990, a group of Republican legislators proposed a high-speed rail line between Seattle and Moses Lake’s Grant County International Airport, as an alternative to SeaTac’s third runway. The topic resurfaced again in 2017, when WSDOT released a preliminary study on high-speed rail between Vancouver, B.C. and Portland. The analysis suggested a connecting, lower-speed line to Spokane.

Now, an east-west line probably would not immediately reach bullet train status, but small improvements could get us to Seattle significantly faster than driving. For example, a route via Stampede Pass could eliminate freight conflicts and provide connections to the Tri-Cities and Yakima. And electrification would allow faster, more sustainable service. 

Imagine the possibilities! With an easier connection to Seattle, our side of the state could share in some of the Westside’s economic growth, while preserving all that makes our side of the state a great place to live. More visitors could come experience our beautiful outdoors and sip world-class wine. Intercity commuters and tens of thousands of area college students could enjoy an easier trip to work, school, or home. Our state wouldn’t be separated during inevitable mountain pass closures, and we could improve safety and reliability over driving or flying. We would create new, sustainable, high-paying jobs across the state. And perhaps most importantly, we could start to chip away at the so-called “Cascade curtain” that contributes to Washington’s cultural divide.

I’m not going to pretend that rail will happen tomorrow. But the Washington Legislature’s transportation package includes $250,000 to study east-west passenger rail service. I’m convinced it would offer immense benefits to Eastern Washington. And maybe make that day trip just a bit easier.

Anthony Gill is an economic development professional, founder of Spokane Rising, and a member of the board of Cascadia Rail, an organization promoting high-speed rail in Washington State