Montana Passenger Rail Service Remains The Subject of Debate
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
Photo courtesy of Amtrak
MISSOULA, Mont. –– Montana just completed its state legislative session, and one of the issues on the table is a proposed rail corridor from Seattle to Chicago, which would run through Montana. Although the bill failed in this session, proponents are optimistic that the bill will be taken up again in the 2027 session.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently delivered its final daily long-distance report to Congress with only one new long-distance route being recommended for development.
According to 8KPAX News it is Amtrak service in southern Montana that would bring service to Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Butte and Missoula. The coordination in Montana is being handled by the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. The proposed route used to be served by the North Coast Hiawatha, an Amtrak train that was discontinued in 1979.
According to the Mineral Independent, the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority has been planning for a restoration of passenger service for about a year. The Big Sky North Coast Corridor, as the route is being referred to, was also accepted into the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, which provided $500,000 for studying the potential for a plan that would include a complete evaluation of the route, service, and community support.
Proposed Big Sky North Coast Corridor (courtesy Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority)
“I see this not as a failure, I see this as an absolute win,” said Representative Denise Baum of Billings, who sponsored the bill. “The reason I say that is because it got people so excited . . . From every corner of the state, county commissioners, to small-town mayors, to chamber[s] of commerce, to tribal members.
Not everyone is enthusiastic about the prospect of new rail service, like Representative Eric Albus from House District 28. He said “The state of Montana would [wind] up having to fund an entity that couldn’t hold its own. So, I didn’t feel the tax burden on our residents needed to be any heavier, subsidizing a railroad.” However, Baum agreed with others who pointed out that tourism and transportation could bring economic benefits to smaller towns.
Another voice in the discussion is Dave Strohmaier, Chairman of the Big Sky Rail Passenger Authority. He said that the House bill would have provided the basis for matching dollars to federal grants and a stable funding stream.
Strohmaier said “We’re still moving forward, we’ll be looking for funding in other ways, but it does not detract one bit from what from what we’re doing. And, we’ll be looking for funding to match the non-federal match of some of our significant federal grant programs through private philanthropy through state DOTs through the 2300-mile corridor.
