2025 BSPRA Annual Conference
Livingston Depot
200 W Park St
Livingston, MT 59047
September 8-10
Explore the 2025 BSPRA Annual Conference
The 2025 BSPRA Annual Conference brought together elected officials, tribal leaders, transportation experts, and advocates from across the country to advance intercity passenger rail in the Greater Northwest. Held in Livingston, Montana, this three-day event featured national policy briefings, regional success stories, and meaningful collaboration—turning vision into action.
More than 150 participants joined us to build new partnerships, strengthen bipartisan support, and chart the future of long-distance and regional rail service. From the kickoff keynote to the final session, the 2025 conference made one thing clear: momentum is growing.
Video recordings of all panels, keynotes, and briefings are now available below. Sessions are listed in agenda order.
Sept 8 Welcome and High Performance Rail Roundable
High Performance Rail Roundtable: Empire Builder / Great Northern Corridor 10:30–11:50 a.m.
Moderator: Allison Corbyn (BSPRA) Panelists: Bruce Agnew (PNWER), Daniel Peltier (BNSF), Chase Toft (Amtrak)
2025-09-08 High Performance Rail Roundtable – Bruce Agnew.pdf
Sept 8 Session 2 Keynote John Robert Smith & Government Partners Workshop
Keynote: John Robert Smith (Transportation for America) 12:00–2:40 p.m.
Moderator: Dan Bucks (BSPRA) Panelists: Bruce Agnew (PNWER), Bryan Stelmack (Stifel Public Finance), Jordan Hess (Mountain Line), Mike Cooney (Treacy Foundation)
Sept 9 Session 1 Welcome & Big Sky North Coast Corridor Briefing Session
Corridor ID Briefing: Big Sky North Coast Corridor 8:15–8:45 a.m.
Speakers: Abe Zumwalt (DEA), Becky Rosenleaf (KLJ), Frank Loetterle (Quandel)
2025-09-09 BSPRA Corridor ID Team Briefing.pdf
Sept 9 Session 2 Federal Policy Briefing: Reauthorization
Federal Policy Briefing – Surface Transportation Reauthorization 8:45–9:30 a.m.
Speakers: John Robert Smith (T4America), Sean Jeans-Gail (Rail Passengers Association)
2025-09-09 Federal Policy Briefing – Surface Transportation Reauthorization.pdf
Sept 9 Session 3 Reimagining Passenger Rail Operations
Reimagining Passenger Rail Operations 9:30–10:40 a.m.
Moderator: Abe Zumwalt (DEA) Panelists: Elaine Clegg (Amtrak Board / Valley Regional Transit), Chris Chettle (Rocky Mountaineer), Mason Baxter (AIPRO Rail), Clayton Johanson (DB E.C.O.)
2025-09-09 Reimagining Passenger Rail – Chris Chettle, Armstrong Collective.pdf
Sept 9 Session 4 Morning Keynote - U.S. Senator Sheehy (MT)
Sept 9 Video Welcome from U.S. Senator Steve Daines (MT)
Sept 9 Video Welcome from U.S. Representative Troy Downing (MT)
Sept 9 Session 5 Keynote - Knox Ross Southern Rail Commission
Knox Ross – Chairman, Southern Rail Commission 12:00–12:55 p.m.
Connecting the South with Passenger Rail
2025-09-09 Keynote – Knox Ross.pdf
Sept 9 Session 6 Benefits of Rail
Benefits of Rail: Economic, Community, Healthcare & Social Connectivity 1:00–2:15 p.m.
Moderator: Becky Rosenleaf (KLJ) Panelists: Breck Lebegue (Storyteller – Social/Health Benefits), Abe Zumwalt (DEA), Tom Leach (Steer Group), Samantha Beyl
(Forsyth – Rural Tourism), David Steele (Jamestown, ND – Economic Impact)
Sept 9 Session 7 Rail Manufacturers Roundtable
Rail Manufacturers Roundtable 2:30–4:00 p.m.
Moderator: Kelvin Wang (Western Transportation Institute) Panelists: Steve Roescher (Siemens),
Alan Westenskow (Stadler US)
2025-09-09 Rail Manufacturers – Siemens – Steve Roescher.pdf
2025-09-09 Rail Manufacturers Roundtable – WTI – Kelvin Wang.pdf
2025-09-09 Rail Manufacturers Roundtable – Stadler–Alan Westenskow.pdf
Sept 10 Session 1 Welcome & National Parks, Tourism, & Regional Heritage
National Parks, Tourism & Regional Heritage 8:00–9:00 a.m.
Moderator: Bill Berg Panelists: Mike Tranel (Yellowstone National Park), Mike Keller (Xanterra Lodges),
Courtland Miller (Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library)
2025-09-10 National Parks – Mike Tranel.pdf
2025-09-10 National Parks – Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.pdf
Sept 10 US Senator Roger Wicker (MS) accepts BSPRA 2025 Founders Award
Sept 10 Session 2 Canadian Connection Alberta & Cross-Border Rail
Canadian Connection: Alberta & Cross-Border Rail 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Speaker: Peter Scholz (Scout Engineering & Consulting)
2025-09-10 Canadian Connection – Alberta & Cross-Border Rail.pdf
In the News: Media Coverage & Press Releases
From local headlines to national publications, the 2025 Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Annual Conference generated significant media interest and sparked a broad public conversation across the Greater Northwest.
Explore coverage from journalists, transportation editors, and community correspondents, along with the press releases that helped amplify the conference’s reach.
Featured Media Coverage
Livingston Enterprise - 'Time for a renaissance': Montana senators Sheehy, Daines jump on board for restoring passenger rail
Q2 Billings - Sheehy backs passenger rail service in Montana at Livingston conference
NonStop Local - Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority hosts annual conference in Livingston focusing on future work needed to restore service
Livingston Enterprise - Chugging along: 3-day Big Sky Passenger Rail conference opens in Livingston
Montana Public Radio - Senator Sheehy Voices Support for Passenger Train Service in Montana
Park County Community Journal - Big Sky Passenger Rail Line Association Conference Sheds Light on Promising New Project Traversing Montana
Rail Connections - The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority’s proposed corridor will restore the North Coast Hiawatha route, linking Chicago to Seattle and Portland through southern Montana
Moments from the 2025 BSPRA Annual Conference
From packed panels and regional rail announcements to evening gatherings and historic Livingston backdrops, these photos capture just a few of the moments that made this year’s conference unforgettable. Feel free to explore, share, and tag your favorites — and thank you to everyone who helped bring this gathering to life.
Support Passenger Rail - Tell Congress Why It Matters
Add your name and voice in support of passenger rail and the Big Sky North Coast Corridor. It only takes 2 minutes.
Your Feedback Moves Us Forward
As we look to the future of the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, your reflections on this year’s conference are essential. What resonated most? What should we build on? Your input will help shape next year’s gathering — and the partnerships, priorities, and progress we pursue along the way.
Turning our Stories into Action
From September 8–10, 2025, public, private, and non-profit leaders from across the Northwest gathered in Livingston, Montana, for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority’s Annual Conference — a powerful step toward realizing the 2,300+ mile Big Sky North Coast Corridor.
This historic route stretches from the Pacific to the Great Lakes, crossing the headwaters of major rivers, uniting metropolitan areas and Tribal nations, and igniting the largest regional economic development opportunity in a generation.
With this year’s theme — Turning Our Stories into Action — participants rolled up their sleeves to:
Share experiences and lessons from across the corridor
Develop strategies to advance the effort
Collaborate across sectors to build lasting partnerships
The result? A renewed sense of momentum, regional pride, and shared responsibility.
