Passenger Rail Feasibility Study: Oroville to Wenatchee corridor

Charu Nethra Sekar

Arizona State University

ABSTRACT

This study assesses the feasibility of introducing scheduled passenger rail service on the Cascade and Columbia River Railroad (CSCD) corridor between Oroville and Wenatchee, Washington. The corridor spans 217.9 km through north-central Washington State, a region with limited intercity transportation options and documented socioeconomic disadvantage. The analysis draws on original geospatial infrastructure assessment conducted using GeoPandas in Python, incorporating the FHWA National Bridge Inventory and FRA Crossing Inventory, alongside verified demographic data, scenario based ridership modeling, financial analysis and environmental and regulatory review. Comparable state supported rural corridors including the Amtrak Cascades, the Heartland Flyer and the Downeaster provide benchmarks for ridership projections and financial modeling. Capital investment and annual operating subsidy estimates are developed across conservative, base and optimistic scenarios and evaluated against available federal funding mechanisms, particularly the FRA CRISI program. The study concludes with a phased implementation roadmap and an overall feasibility determination

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