Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

🚂 Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Applauds FRA Long-Distance Study Release! The Federal Railroad Administration’s release of the Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study marks a monumental step forward for passenger rail in the Northwest. The Big Sky North Coast Corridor, a key part of this study, has been recognized for its potential to connect communities, drive economic growth, and re-establish a vital rail link across the region. 🗺️ Visualize the Future: The first map highlights the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, formerly known as the North Coast Hiawatha. The second showcases the Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Vision, emphasizing the broader opportunities for rail connectivity in our region, thanks to the generosity and creativity of Xplorer Maps and our transportation advocates in the region including All Aboard Northwest, ALL ABOARD WASHINGTON, Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates, All Aboard Minnesota, Utah Rail Passengers Association and others. Our mission remains clear: advocate for the return of long-distance rail service to communities across the Northwest. This study underscores the importance of our work and the transformative potential of passenger rail for our region. 📄 Review the FRA study here: https://lnkd.in/gcRzDHkz and read our press release here: https://lnkd.in/d5b6dA7i Stay tuned for more updates, and join us as we work to make this route a reality! #PassengerRail #BSPRA #NorthwestConnectivity #RailExpansion #TransportationInfrastructure

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority proudly shares our 2024 Retrospective: Reflecting on the Past, Planning for the Future. Presented by Chairman Dave Strohmaier at our recent board meeting, this retrospective highlights: 🚆 Progress on the Big Sky North Coast Corridor. 🤝 Community engagement achievements in 2024. 🌟 Strategic priorities for 2025. 📥 Explore the full retrospective here: https://lnkd.in/gT57kpUu Let’s continue building the future of passenger rail together!

🚨America Builds – The State of the Nation’s Transportation System 🚨 Join the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for an organizational meeting and hearing to explore the challenges and opportunities in America’s transportation network. 🏗️🚉✈️ Hearing Witnesses: ➡️ Governor Jeff Landry, State of Louisiana ➡️ Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, City of Austin & Chair, NLC Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee ➡️ Sarah Galica, VP of Transportation, The Home Depot ➡️ Seth Schulgen, VP, Williams Brothers Construction, on behalf of AGC of America 📅 Date: WEDNESDAY, January 15th 🕙 Time: 10 am ET 🔗 Watch Live: https://lnkd.in/g-PiUisH Tune in to hear insights on transportation infrastructure priorities, innovative solutions, and the future of mobility across America! #Transportation #Infrastructure #AmericaBuilds

Before there were cars, planes, cybertrucks, and electric unicycles—there were trains. People rode trains to get just about everywhere, from work, school, and daily errands, to holiday getaways at the national parks. As Meredith Richards of Rail Passengers Association, one of our guests in this episode, puts it, “Trains were simply the way people traveled.” So what happened to our once-great passenger rail system? How did the U.S. become so car-dependent that many Americans today ride trains for the first time when they travel abroad? In this first of two episodes on passenger rail, we learn about how railroads once connected us all, how public investment in other modes of transportation—but not in railroads—gradually undermined rail travel, and why in 1971 the government eventually took passenger service off the hands of the privately-owned railroads. Be sure to listen and share! Thanks to Bill Moyer, BACKBONE CAMPAIGN Sasha Elenko #solutionaryrail https://lnkd.in/gfTS3JFb

We’re excited to partner with Great Burn Brewing and Montana Trails Coalition for a Pint Night benefiting Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority and Montana Trails Coalition! 📅 Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025 🕔 Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Location: Great Burn Brewing, Missoula, MT This event is a perfect opportunity to connect over a pint, support passenger rail and trail initiatives in Montana, and engage with your community. Save the date, and let’s build connections together—one pint at a time! #MissoulaEvents #SmartGrowth #MissoulaUrbanism #CraftBeerCommunity #MontanaTrails #BigSkyRail #MissoulaPintNight fyi Visit Missoula! University of Montana Missoula Independent Missoula Current Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce Bike Walk Montana Rails to Trails Conservancy Mountain Line (Missoula, MT) Missoula Downtown Assoc KGPR Montana Public RadioMissoula Urban Transportation District Missoula Urban Demonstration Project (MUD) Missoula In Motion Missoula Community Radio Missoula Community Foundation

BSPRA Board Meeting Reminder Please join us on Wednesday, January 8th, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MT for our bimonthly board meeting. Featured Update: Abe Zumwalt will provide the latest on the Corridor ID program—don’t miss this important discussion! Below is the link to the agenda and dial-in instructions. All are welcome to join and listen in. If you cannot join live, recordings will be available. Agenda & Details: https://lnkd.in/gm6TX5wt Thank you for your interest in revitalizing communities and building sustainable economies through passenger rail. #bigskypassengerrail

A Step Forward for Rail Passengers - Recent legislation aims to eliminate forced arbitration for Amtrak passengers, ensuring fair treatment and justice. Protecting passengers' rights is essential as we work toward revitalizing passenger rail in Montana and beyond. Learn more about how these changes could benefit rail travelers across the country: https://lnkd.in/gtybPUXi #BigSkyRail #PassengerRights #RailAdvocacy

Thank You, Senator Jon Tester Today, we recognize Senator Jon Tester for his remarkable contributions to Montana and the future of passenger rail. As a key architect of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Senator Tester championed investments transforming rail, roads, bridges, and broadband across the country. Senator Tester also stood firm in advocating for fair representation on transportation boards, including Amtrak, ensuring that voices outside the Northeast Corridor were heard and valued. This was a significant step in recognizing the unique needs of rural and underserved regions like Montana. As we look to the future, we welcome Senator-elect Tim Sheehy and look forward to working together to build on this foundation for a more connected and vibrant Montana. Thank you, Senator Tester, for your service and dedication. Your legacy in shaping the future of infrastructure and rail will always be appreciated. #PassengerRail #Montana #BigSkyRail #IIJA #ThankYou #NewBeginnings

🚆 Building the Future of Passenger Rail Together! 🚆 As 2024 comes to a close, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority celebrates the incredible momentum we’ve built together. From hosting the FRA Long-Distance Service Study workshop in the Northwest to achieving Corridor ID recognition, we’ve made great strides in reconnecting communities, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable growth across the Big Sky North Coast Corridor. Your support matters. With your help, we can: ➡️ Expand outreach efforts in 2025. ➡️ Accelerate research and planning for passenger rail. ➡️ Strengthen our coalition across the Greater Northwest. 💡 Your contributions fuel this movement. Will you join us? Click here to donate: https://lnkd.in/gvA2ytTZ This isn’t just about rail—it’s about connecting people, opportunities, and the heart of the West. Let’s create a sustainable future together.

As we celebrate the holiday season, we are reminded that connection is at the heart of every journey. Like the tracks that wind through valleys and across peaks, the paths we take—whether by train, conversation, or kindness—bring us closer to one another and the dreams we share. This season, let us reflect on the power of coming together: 🚉 Across miles and moments, connecting people to places and possibilities. 🌟 Across differences, bridging divides with understanding and compassion. 🎁 Across generations, preserving the beauty of rail travel and sustainable transit for the future. May your holidays be filled with peace, reflection, and the joy of shared journeys—on the rails and in life. From all of us at Big Sky Passenger Rail, we wish you a season of warmth, wonder, and forward momentum. Together, we can make the connections that matter.