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<br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />November 2, 2000 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />NCDA <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Tim Yantos <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Final Report on NCDATrip to Seattle and Vancouver <br /> <br />NCDA members and staff toured commuter rail systems in Seattle and <br />Vancouver on October 2 and 3, 2000. Representatives met withSound <br />Transit officials and rode the new Sounder commuter rail system linking <br />Seattle and Tacoma, Wash. The Sounder began operation in late <br />September. Sound Transit, the transit authority in the Seattle area, <br />provided passenger rail cars to the Northstcr Corridor for a demonstration <br />of commuter rail in August. <br /> <br />Staff is particularly interested in the Sounder system because the Seattle <br />area is similar in metropolitan population to the Twin Cities area. In <br />addition, both systems link urban areas togetherand use Burlington <br />Northern Sante Fe rail lines. <br /> <br />NCDA representatives also toured a commuter rail system in Vancouver, <br />B. C. Meetings with officials from TransLink, the transit authority for the <br />Vancouver area, were followed by a ride on the 5-year oldWest Coast <br />Express commuter train. <br /> <br />On-time performance, a variety of marketing techniques, and well- <br />maintained passenger cars which appeared new, despite their 5-year <br />history, were highlights of the system. <br /> <br />The attached report provides details on Sourd Transit and West Coast <br />Express systems; as well as NCDA itinerary for touring the two systems, <br />and lessons learned from both visits. <br />