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Montana ‘closer than ever’ in restoration of southern rail passenger route

By: Martin Kidston - Missoula Current | Posted at 9:14 AM, Mar 06, 2023 and last updated 11:14 AM, Mar 06, 2023

MISSOULA - For the first time in its young history, the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority now claims a contiguous block of participating counties stretching from the North Dakota border across the state to the western border with Idaho.

The conglomerate of 20 counties is nearly double what the rail authority started with in the fall of 2020, and it represents roughly 33% of all Montana counties. The authority also includes three Native American reservations.

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The addition of Treasure County last week gives the authority added momentum as it and other transportation districts around the county wait for the release of an anticipated study this spring by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is pushing to ensure the old North Coast Hiawatha, which crossed the state's southern tier until 1977, is included in the FRA's final Amtrak Daily Long Distance Service Study.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority submits proposal for southern Montana passenger service

by NBC Montana Staff | Wed, March 29th 2023, 8:43 PM EDT

MISSOULA, Mont. — Plans are moving forward for a proposal to bring back passenger rail service to southern Montana.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority's proposal would restore the North Coast Hiawatha Corridor, which stretched from Chicago to Seattle and Portland until 1979.

Organizers recently submitted the proposal to the Federal Railroad Administration.

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The Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program can support 30 or more Amtrak routes to bring back from retirement. ... Being selected would include a $500,000 grant for predevelopment planning.

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