OR SB715

Establishes the Cascadia High Speed Rail Task Force with 12 Governor-appointed members representing Metro, large businesses, community organizations, housing developers, higher education, environmental groups, building trades, ODOT, local governments, transit agencies, and disadvantaged business enterprises

Task force must explore high speed rail investment in the Portland Metro area, develop goals for early scenario planning, investigate potential corridors and station areas, and identify funding procurement actions

Task force may research economic development, ridership drivers, community benefits, and include concept-level cost estimation in reports

Progress reports due January 1, 2027 and January 1, 2028; final report due January 1, 2029 to the Legislative Assembly interim committee on rail transportation

Metro provides staff support; members serve as unpaid volunteers; task force is repealed January 2, 2029; act takes effect 91 days after session adjournment