ND Legislature allocates $150,000 for passenger rail service project

The rail route would go from Chicago to Seattle, including potential stops in Fargo, Jamestown, Bismarck, Dickinson and Medora.

The bill received bipartisan support, with Representatives Ed Byrne (R-Bigfork) and Katie Zolnikov (R-Billings) advocating for its passage. The proposed funds will support planning, outreach, and organizational efforts, aiding local governments in securing larger grants and determining future passenger rail stops. 

Montana House bill looks to provide funding for passenger rail

Effort to bring increased passenger rail could get boost under new bill

House Bill 848 would create a “Big Sky Rail Account” within the state special revenue fund.

Big Sky North Coast Corridor train route moves forward in planning process. Many rural towns want to become a designated stop as the economic benefits are beginning to become visible, but rules, regulations, policies and procedures are going to have the final say with the FRA having the lion’s share of authority. There are so many moving parts and as this moves closer to fruitfulness, more ins-and-outs develop. Historically, rail stations were spaced about 50 miles apart to accommodate steam locomotives' water needs. 

Proposed bill would direct percentage of rental car tax revenue to Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

Pursuant to the draft text of LC 3060, it would — if enacted — amend part of the state’s taxation laws within Title 15 of Montana Code Annotated to require a 25% deposit of the annual revenue collected on the base rental charge for rental vehicles to a new account — the Big Sky Rail Account — in the state special revenue fund for use by regional rail authorities.

Joint resolution asks for interim public transportation study into trains, buses, air traffic

Public transit study would look at passenger rail, passenger air, public transit, and passenger bus services

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is pushing forward with plans to restore passenger rail service in the region. A key component of their strategy is securing support from local governments and municipalities.

Dave Strohmaier, chairman of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, emphasized the importance of collaboration. "And recognizing that we need to expand the breath of participation and collaboration, beyond the rail authority member counties.... We created the Government Partners program for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority," Strohmaier said.

Passenger rail service with stop in Jamestown could begin in 8 to 10 years

The route would go through Fargo, Jamestown, Bismarck and Dickinson.

Efforts to restore passenger rail service through Montana and Wyoming continue to build, as The Cowboy State Daily reports on growing support for the return of the North Coast Hiawatha and the development of a Billings-to-El Paso corridor.

The Federal Railroad Administration’s Long-Distance Service Study identified both routes as candidates for restoration, reinforcing the role of intercity rail in connecting rural communities, boosting local economies, and expanding transportation options.

Dave Strohmaier, a Missoula County Commissioner and chair of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority said he thinks future passenger train opportunities should fit in well with the new Secretary of Transportation’s priorities.

Are passenger trains entering a golden age or reaching the end of the line?

Amid shifting political winds in Washington, D.C., and aging equipment across the country, passenger rail in Montana faces an uncertain future.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is making strides towards reintroducing passenger rail service in Montana. The plan aims to connect Montana to itself and the rest of the country using existing rail routes.

The Federal Railroad Administration has submitted a final report to the U.S. Congress, marking a significant step forward. The route will restore passenger service between Fargo, North Dakota, and Sandpoint, Idaho, a route that has not seen service in over 40 years.

Building the Rail Workforce of Tomorrow!

Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute (WTI) just received a $6.5 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) CRISI Program to fuel workforce development in the rail industry! This transformative project, supported by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will connect academic, industry, and community partners across Montana and beyond to strengthen and diversify the rail workforce pipeline.

With $630,000 in support, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) joins WTI, The University of Memphis Office of Admissions & Orientation, and Cal State University, Long Beach to identify regional workforce needs and develop training strategies. As BSPRA Chairman Dave Strohmeier put it, "This CRISI grant will help us as a region and nation build the rail workforce of the future.”

As we step into a rail renaissance, this initiative marks an exciting leap forward for American rail!

Positive news from last night's Bismarck ND City Government meeting to "Consider the request for approval of becoming a member of the Big Sky Passenger Rail's Government Partners program through the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).”

Reconnect America is the new podcast from Solutionary Rail that presents a creative yet common sense vision for U.S. railroads. It weaves together the genius of community and technical experts, workers and policymakers, advocates and scholars. Reconnect America reflects a decade of research, writing, and advocacy aimed at illuminating the ways in which the U.S. rail system can be harnessed to better service public interests and to address 21st century problems.

Reconnect America is hosted by Bill Moyer, co-author of the book Solutionary Rail: A People-powered Campaign to Electrify America’s Railroads and Open Corridors to a Clean Energy Future.

I was asked to moderate a panel titled “Renaissance for Passenger Rail Across America: From Washington, D.C. to Your Local Depot”, which cast a spotlight on work being funded by the unprecedented investment in rail passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The panel featured updates from the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

While it was heartening to hear about all the work being done to upgrade the Amtrak Cascades corridor (Eugene, OR – Portland, OR – Seattle, WA – Vancouver, BC), as well as restore the North Coast and Pioneer long-distance routes, it also highlighted the need for Congress to recommit to a strong rail program in the upcoming transportation reauthorization. The BIL is set to expire September 2026, and there simply isn’t enough time or funding left to advance more than a fraction of the ready-to-go projects along the 69 corridors selected as part of the Corridor Identification Program. For the Greater Northwest to see these plans come to fruition, we’ll have to help build a strong national coalition of states, cities, towns, and rail industry stakeholders to ensure the BIL isn’t simply a one-off investment.

One of the proposed routes is the former North Coast Hiawatha line, which ran through four western states from Chicago to Seattle until it shut down in 1979. The revival of the North Coast Hiawatha route is thanks in large part to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, which has spent years gathering support for restoring the rail service. As one of the proposed routes in the Corridor ID program, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority received $500,000 in federal funding in December, and the group has been working on planning and designing the route since then. 

Through the Corridor ID Program, BSPRA is working with eight states to assess infrastructure needs, identify service gaps, and develop a robust service development plan (SDP). This effort is not just about restoring a route; it's about enhancing the quality of life for rural residents and providing a sustainable transportation option that reduces environmental impacts and improves mobility.