International Trade and Economic DevelopmentDepartment of Community, Trade & Economic Development 
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Transportation
Overview
Washington maintains its competitive edge in the global marketplace by ensuring that the transportation system capacity expands to meet increased trade demands. Trade extends beyond port property; over 70 percent of Washington's imports are destined for points south and east of the state. Downloads
Washington State is optimally located for rapid access to the West Coast, Midwest, Canada, and Asia. Major HighwaysFour major interstate highways, I-5, I-405, I-90 and I-82 serve Washington and provide direct access to markets within the state and throughout the North American continent. Additionally, I-205 and I-182 allow inter-loop connections for the Vancouver and Tri-Cities (Richland-Kennewick-Pasco) areas.
AirportsWashington State is supported by an air infrastructure of 129 public-use airports, including 14 scheduled commercial-service airports and 2 international airports providing passenger service access across the state, the nation, and the world. Commercial Airports
Additional Airport Information
Air freight is moved though 26 primary locations in the state. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, King County/Boeing Field, and Spokane International Airport support the majority of air freight. RailroadUnion Pacific (UP) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) are the major transcontinental rail providers in Washington. Both offer intermodal double-stack container rail transport that allows goods to be transported to the midwest in less than three days, while eastern US Coastal cities can be reached within five days. Intermodal facilities are located in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. There are 17 additional local service railroads.
Trucking/ShippingWashington State carriers provide scheduled daily departures to principal urban areas in the western, mountain, and mid-western regions of the US and western Canada. Washington State ranks among the top ten states in general freight tonnage carried by truck interstate. This level of competition results in favorable negotiated freight rates. Overland shipping distances from the state’s metropolitan areas to the Midwest are shorter than routes from other major western coastal cities. Typical shipping times:
PortsWashington State has seven deep-draft ports on Puget Sound, one on its Pacific Coast and three on the Columbia River. These ports work together to move goods into, through, and out of the state for distribution all over the nation. Asia Pacific markets can be reached one to two days faster from Washington than from California. The ports of Seattle and Tacoma are world-class facilities that move a combined cargo volume ranking them as the second largest port complex in the Western Hemisphere and the eleventh largest in the world. The Port of Tacoma provides double-stack service for railroad shippers and operates its own intermodal rail facility and dockside-to-mainline switching rail. Ports on Washington’s Pacific Coast and lower Columbia River are also important trans-shipment points for ocean vessels and river barges. The state’s water transport system extends 352 river miles inland with additional port facilities on the mid and upper Columbia River and Snake River.
Updated March 2008 |