Policymakers, transportation industry leaders and association representatives from across the Pacific Northwest will gather in Portland, Oregon, for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region’s (PNWER) Build Northwest Economic Forum and Pacific Northwest Rail Summit, hosted jointly from October 14-17. The events are co-hosted with the PNWER Regional Infrastructure Accelerator and the Association of Oregon of Rail and Transit Advocates (AORTA).
The event will provide a unique opportunity to engage with the region’s key decision makers in the public and private sectors. The Economic Forum will highlight binational trade, supply chain resilience and permitting in project delivery before turning to freight and passenger rail systems, including a showcase of efforts to restore passenger service along unserved corridors.
“The Pacific Northwest is a vital gateway for international trade and economic growth, and this event will underscore our region’s role in connecting goods, markets and people,” Matt Morrison, PNWER executive director, said. “We look forward to bringing together leaders from both sides of the border to strengthen partnerships and bolster resilient infrastructure that keeps our economy moving.”
Key topics of discussion on this year’s agenda include:
- Binational trade and the upcoming USMCA/CUSMA joint review
- Truck, barge and train: building resilient, multimodal supply chains
- Accelerating permitting and public-private partnerships
- Joint investments in high performance freight and passenger rail
- Federal priorities and state/provincial/territorial legislative discussions
- Reauthorization of federal surface transportation funding package
Session speakers span key industries and represent government agencies, businesses, Class I and short line railroads, Amtrak, the federal Surface Transportation Board, state/provincial legislatures and leading transportation associations. Together with insights from attendees, these diverse perspectives will foster greater regional cooperation and advance shared economic priorities.
“Better mobility, both freight and rail, benefits us all,” Jon Nuxoll, AORTA president, said. “Decades of public-private partnerships in Washington (Sound Transit, [Amtrak] Cascades) and California (Capitol, San Joaquin and Surfliner corridors) have brought more mobility for all. This summit continues that effort.”
In addition to sessions, attendees are invited to take part in industry tours showcasing the region’s transportation and energy networks. Tours include Modern Hydrogen’s Portland facility, Portland Union Station, BNSF Vancouver railyard and the Port of Portland. These tours provide participants with an opportunity to see critical systems firsthand and gain new understanding of how they connect the region.
For more information on the event and to view the full agenda, visit pnwer.org/2025-forum.
About PNWER:
The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is a public/private non-profit organization established in 1991. Member jurisdictions include Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, and the Canadian provinces and territories of Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon. PNWER’s mission is to increase the economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens of the region, identify and promote “models of success,” and serve as a conduit to exchange information.
