US Transportation Secretary touts federal investment during Missoula visit

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was in Missoula on Monday. "All together we've given out over $2.4 billion to modernize transportation across Montana, It's a level of financial support from the federal government that we haven't seen in my lifetime, and it's sorely needed.

Buttigieg said that he believes improved passenger train service should be a priority. "The bottom line is passenger rail is something we believe in."

He noted that the federal government has given Big Sky Passenger Rail a $500,000 Corridor ID grant to study the possibility of bringing back the North Coast Hiawatha Chicago to Seattle passenger train route. That route, which was discontinued for passenger service in 1979, ran through Missoula. The return of passenger service has been championed by Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier, who is the chairman of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. Read more.