I would probably add Vancouver, BC -> Seattle -> Portland to that list, but I think that's probably right. The thing is, if we actually added viable rail to all of those cities mentioned, it would be a huge swath of the country, without needing to build a 200mph train through Wyoming.
Right now there are ~40 flights a day that go from PDX-SEA or SEA-PDX. Those are a waste of airport capacity and carbon emission. Both cities have the transit network to easily get people to the airport from wherever the HSR ends up for people who are using those flights to make connections, and could promote growth in the aggregate area in a way that doesn't exist now.
Right now there are ~40 flights a day that go from PDX-SEA or SEA-PDX. Those are a waste of airport capacity and carbon emission. Both cities have the transit network to easily get people to the airport from wherever the HSR ends up for people who are using those flights to make connections, and could promote growth in the aggregate area in a way that doesn't exist now.