A coalition of rail advocates, public‑health physicians and organizations called on the House Transportation Committee to prioritize rail infrastructure investments to improve Amtrak Cascades on‑time performance and to create a dedicated rail office.

Nut graf: Testimony from Climate Rail Alliance, Solutionary Rail, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility and others argued that equipment purchases alone will not meet trip‑time or reliability goals; witnesses urged capital investment in track and systems, a near‑term high‑performance Amtrak Cascades service and a permanent rail office inside state government.

Leah White, chair of the Climate Rail Alliance, said the budget record included equipment for the Cascades but "no mention of infrastructure for Amtrak Cascades Regional Rail Service," and warned that new trainsets operating on unimproved track would not deliver promised travel‑time or reliability gains. Bill Moyer of Solutionary Rail and Mary Peterson of the Rail Can't Wait campaign asked the legislature to establish an independent rail office with dedicated staff and initial funding (petitioners suggested $750,000 and four full‑time positions) to plan and prioritize rail investments.

Physicians and public‑health advocates also testified on climate and health grounds. Dr. Breck Lebeg of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility argued that expanding highway capacity increases vehicle miles traveled and harms health, and that rail is a critical low‑carbon alternative.

Ending: Multiple speakers asked the committee to include infrastructure funding for Amtrak Cascades, prioritize rail in Climate Commitment Act spending, and consider statutory or budget language to elevate rail planning within the department of transportation so capital investments can reduce travel times and improve reliability.