Southeast Montana News

Dawson and Wibaux are among 12 Montana counties that founded the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority to back the return of passenger rail service throughout Southern Montana, according to a Missoula County press release.

This finalized joint resolution provides the appointment of one representative from each county to serve the authority.

“Counties in Montana have done what has never been done before: Establish the first regional passenger rail authority in the state. This will set the stage for re-establishing regular passenger rail service through the southern tier of the state—a transformational project for Montana that will add to and complement the Empire Builder along the Hi-Line,” Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier said. “We hope to schedule our first board meeting of the authority in December or January and get this train moving.”

The 12 counties are Broadwater, Butte-Silver Bow, Dawson, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Missoula, Park, Powell, Prairie, Sanders and Wibaux.

Per MCA 7-14-16, "the purpose of the authority is to provide for the preservation and improvement of abandoned rail service for agriculture, industry or passenger traffic and to provide for the preservation of abandoned railroad right-of-way for future transportation uses, when determined to be practicable and necessary for the public welfare.”

The authority constitutes the governance structure to investigate, analyze and seek funding for and develop long-distance, inter-city rail service to further the health, safety, welfare and economic prosperity throughout Montana.

For more information, contact Strohmaier at dstrohmaier@missoulacounty.us or 406-529-5580.