BSPRA QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER 

Spring 2024

Thanks largely to your efforts and participation, we have achieved everything we set out to achieve over the past three years. Here’s a quick recap of how far we’ve come since 2020:

• We successfully worked with members of Congress on federal legislation directing the US Department of Transportation to conduct the Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study (Section 22214 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA]).
• The former North Coast Hiawatha (NCH) route is now a preferred route in the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA’s) long-distance study.
• The NCH is the only new long-distance route (defined as over 750 miles in length) in the entire nation accepted into and funded by the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program. This route through southern Montana is the nation’s highest priority long-distance route for restoration.
• We successfully secured a $15M grant for work near Malta, MT, to facilitate the Empire Builder's on-time performance and more efficient freight operations in northern Montana.
• Thanks to BSPRA's work, the Federal Railroad Administration will be in Montana in June for the capstone event in our region of the Long-Distance Service Study.
• Our board of directors now includes representatives of Amtrak, BNSF Railway, tribal nations, and the Montana Department of Transportation in addition to member counties along the route of the former North Coast Hiawatha.
• BSPRA is the largest transportation district in Montana and has become a national leader in passenger rail issues.
• We just received $500K to begin scoping a service development plan for the NCH. We are scheduled to receive future funds to enable us to plan and design the route up to the implementation point. Our press release about the award is here.
• We've launched a procurement process to hire a professional consulting team to assist us with our Corridor ID project, which is likely the most expansive in the nation.

• PNWER RIA has awarded BSPRA a grant totaling $150,000. 

  These funds will further our work both in southern Montana and also along the Empire Builder route, to the benefit of both freight and passenger operations.

• Chair Strohmaier and Vice Chair Stuart got a sneak peek at Stadler Rail's Hydrogen-powered train at the ENSCO Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo last month. 

It’s Time to Provide Rail Service to all Americans

There is a void in passenger rail service in the Greater Northwest, extending 2,000 miles from the Great Lakes to the Pacific and 800 miles from Great Falls to Denver. 

Other noteworthy updates: 

• On April 5th, we kicked off the first in a series of Municipal Partner Program workshops, “Revitalizing Communities through Passenger Rail to share more about our progress and what it means for cities and towns along the former NCH. To learn more, visit our website here.
• We just released our updated Trifold Brochure and work is underway to complete our second Annual Report.

• Jason Stuart and Dave Strohmaier are attending the Governor’s Tourism Conference in Missoula from April 14th -16th.

• BSPRA and Amtrak will address the Montana State Legislature Transportation Interim Committee on May 8th.

• Rail Users Network has invited BSPRA to speak at its Spring Conference (details in upcoming events).

• Our annual meeting will be held in Missoula, MT, on Friday, June 7th. Details will follow, so please save the date! 
• The third annual Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit will be in Spokane, WA, October 8th - 9th, hosted by All Aboard Washington. Watch this site for updates.

Be sure to watch Passenger Rail in Southern Montana Gaining Steam 

a webinar sponsored by Montana State University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Friday Forum. BSPRA Vice Chair Jason Stuart and Dan Bucks of the Development and Strategic Engagement Committee provide an informative overview of our current efforts.

REMEMBER: Board meetings are now every other month, so our next full board meeting will be May 13th. For our schedule of upcoming committee meetings, go to Upcoming Meetings — Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (bigskyrail.org) or see below.

Upcoming Meetings (all times MDT) 

Development & Strategic Engagement, April 18th, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Communications, April 19th, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Executive Committee, May 1st, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Board Meeting, May 8th, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Governance, May 10th, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Media & Community Engagement

Passenger train route through Montana in planning stage - KULR8 "We're planning on something that will be transformational across Montana," said David Strohmaier, the Chair of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.  The North Coast Hiawatha Route once connected Chicago to Seattle by passenger trains, with stops along the way in areas of Montana, including Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings. "It's something that will be convenient for people and show Montana in a big way," said Strohmaier.  Read more.

Largest rail investment entices Montana passenger rail advocates - Missoula Current

“This is an unprecedented investment in rail in general,” Missoula County Commissioner and Chairman of Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, Dave Strohmaier, said, “Even though we've been more heavily focused on passenger operations, we're seeing this opportunity to invest in freight operations, which has the added advantage of benefiting passenger possibilities in the future.” The grant has aided rail companies in Montana before. In 2020, Montana Rail Link received $3.5 million to install positive train control on 600 miles of mainline rail across Montana and Idaho. Last year, the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority also secured federal funding with Amtrak to address a “bottleneck” for passenger and freight services near Malta (Amtrak Empire Builder). Strohmaier said the grant requires a local match, and only a government entity can apply. Read more.

What the FRA Study Could Mean...from Streets.mn  - Well worth reading and lessons for all...not just Minnesota. An unprecedented amount of money, effort and political will is currently being marshaled by federal, state and even local governments for improving our nation’s intercity rail system. Much of that attention has rightfully gone toward high-speed rail, as well as frequent, higher speed service between city pairs. However, in the text of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), there was also a congressional mandate for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to study long-distance routes, whether resuming discontinued long-distance routes or creating new ones from scratch.

If these long-distance study routes can survive the continuing process of development, we can get our foot in the door as sustainable transportation advocates. This is important for reasons beyond sustainable intercity and interstate travel. Train stations are a part of walkable, sustainable cities and towns of all sizes across the world. Normal, Illinois is a poster child of the ways that passenger rail can help transform small towns and mid-sized cities that people would otherwise write off as “flyover” country. Read more.

After years of work, the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, established in 2020, is pleased to announce that the Federal Railroad Administration has chosen Missoula as the location of the final Northwest Region Working Group meeting! This affirms the priority of restoring passenger rail service through southern Montana, which will add transportation options for Montanans, helping further our goals of climate action, economic development, and transportation equity across the entire region. Read more. 

There are plenty of people out there, including myself) who absolutely love the long-distance trains that survive under Amtrak. With the FRA's long-distance service proposal released last month to complement the Corridor ID project, they could well see a new rebirth.  I give you all my thoughts about the proposed Amtrak routes.  Some are the return of old classics, and others are new and 'off the wall" ideas, but ALL of these routes deserve a fair shake, and I hope as many of them can come to fruition as possible. YouTube link.

Chairman Strohmaier and Vice Chair Jason Stuart visited Pueblo CO to check out Stadler Rail's hydrogen-powered train at Ensco's Transportation Technology Center.  Click here to learn more about this clean technology. 

Mapping the Expansion of Passenger Rail in the United States - helpful and interactive maps thanks to Noah Kahan. The Corridor Identification and Development Program (Corridor ID) is a planning program for intercity passenger rail projects in the United States. The FRA Daily Long Distance Service Study is a separate program that evaluates the potential for new routes and the restoration of discontinued long distance routes. 

Upcoming Events

Chairman Strohmaier and Vice Chairman Stuart are attending the Governor's Conference on April 14th - 16th - Tourism is a leading industry in Montana, and it's more than just leisure, it's an opportunity. Set your coordinates for Missoula to celebrate half a century of lights, camera and destinations. The event will feature a variety of sessions that will expand and challenge our thinking, provide direction for the future and supply us with new tools to promote and develop our markets and services. Celebrate two golden milestones with us: 50 years of the Montana Film and Tourism Offices! Learn more.

May 8th, 2023-2024 MONTANA TRANSPORTATION INTERIM COMMITTEE

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  State Capitol Building 137 & Zoom

Current work plan items include Passenger Rail Initiatives – Big Sky Rail/MDT Presentation

Rail Users Network Spring Conference “Expanding Long-Distance Rail Service”

May 17th (virtual attendance) 

12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

The conference is designed not only for rail advocates but also for civic and business leaders, environmentalists, planners, real estate developers, and general public members interested in knowing more about passenger rail and rail transit in America. This is a free event for RUN members, but registration is required.  A registration fee for non-members is $25, which includes RUN membership through 2024. By registering, you'll gain access to valuable insights and discussions about the future of rail transit in America.  Please be sure to register by May 10 so we can send along the info needed to attend. To register, please go to RUN's website.  

SAVE THE DATE

FRIDAY JUNE 7TH

MISSOULA, MT

BSPRA ANNUAL MEETING 

Details to follow

The Third Annual Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit

October 8th - 9th

Spokane, WA

It is co-sponsored by All Aboard Northwest, the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, All Aboard Washington, The Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates, and the Northwest Region of the Rail Passengers Association.

Use this link to stay updated.

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