Join us to hear the history of passenger rail in Montana, and current efforts to re-establish a southern line.

Friday, March 8 | 12:00–1:30 p.m.

Online via Zoom
Bozeman, MT

Jason Stuart, vice-chair of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA), and Dan Bucks, chairman of BSPRA's Development & Strategic Engagement Committee, will discuss the history of passenger rail service in Montana and current efforts to re-establish passenger rail service across southern Montana.

In December 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced that BSPRA successfully applied to include the former North Coast Hiawatha route in the FRA's Corridor ID program. Of the 69 routes FRA selected for inclusion in Corridor ID, this is the only national, long-distance route chosen for the program. The FRA awarded BSPRA an initial grant of $500,000 to prepare a Scope of Work, the first step in Corridor ID. Millions more in federal funding will follow to create a Service Development Plan in Step 2 and for environmental reviews and technical engineering in Step 3. As part of its ongoing Long-Distance Rail Study, FRA also recently revealed that the former North Coast Hiawatha route is one of 15 long-distance rail routes FRA has identified as preferred for restoration.

Regional rail authorities in Montana aim to preserve and improve abandoned rail services for agriculture, industry, or passenger traffic and to preserve the abandoned railroad right-of-way for future transportation uses when determined to be practicable and necessary for the public welfare. The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority's mission is to provide for the reestablishment of safe, reliable and sustainable passenger rail service across southern Montana that increases opportunity and contributes to the health and well-being of people across the state and beyond.

Forum participants are encouraged to submit questions and comments in advance via Zoom registration. Participants must register no later than 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 8. Upon registration confirmation, participants will receive an email with the Zoom link and instructions to join the program. Friday Forum offers presentations and lively discussions on local and regional timely topics. Friday Forum is free and open to the public.

Register Here

If you have questions regarding this event, please contact Jessica Alvarez at 406-994-6446 or jessica.alvarez2@montana.edu.