Gov. Gregoire�s statement on decision by Canadian government to waive train fee

For Immediate Release: August 24, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the decision by the Canadian federal government to waive the border clearance fee, allowing the second Amtrak line between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. to continue. The announcement was made this afternoon at a news conference in Vancouver:

�The decision to waive the border clearance fee is fantastic news for both Washington state and British Columbia, as well as for those businesses that have greatly benefitted from the second Amtrak line.

�There�s no question the second train has helped our economic recovery � leading to a significant increase in tourism spending on both sides of the border. At the same time we�ve been successful in removing thousands of passengers from our roads � easing congestion at our border crossings and decreasing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The benefits of this train are clear � and imposing a fee would have put those benefits at risk.

�I thank federal officials on both sides of the border, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, for realizing the importance of the second line, and for their tireless work to ensure it continues.�