Montana Rail Authority gains new members, eyes infrastructure funding

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority this week gained new support after Stillwater County voted to join and, along with Rosebud County, will petition the rail organization for membership.

The authority, which officially formed last year, now claims at least 13 counties stretching from east to west across Montana’s southern tier. While the counties are politically diverse, they’re each united in an effort to restore intercity rail to the old North Coast Hiawatha route.

The organization’s momentum comes as Sen. Jon Tester and nine other senators this week reached a deal in a sizable infrastructure bill that includes funding for Amtrak and the nation’s passenger rail system.

The funding contains around $12 billion earmarked for intercity rail, which could help fund restoration of the North Coast Hiawatha, according to Dave Strohmaier, the Montana rail authority’s president.