Mineral Co. Commissioners vote to join passenger rail authority

Passenger rail service through southern Montana ended 42 years ago. There has been a growing group of passionate residents across Big Sky Country, along with both U.S. senators in Washington D.C., to make an ambitious move to bring it back.

The behemoth cost of the project is where most conversations of this venture ends.

Dave Strohmaier, Missoula County Commissioner, and chairman of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, had this to share.

“Some folks ask me what the likelihood of restored passenger rail service is occurring, and my answer is absolutely zero if we don’t do anything differently, think outside of the box, and investigate next steps," Strohmaier said. "No one else is going to do this for us, which is why counties across Montana have established the rail authority. There are billions of dollars in the bi-partisan infrastructure project available for exactly the sort of project we’re talking about.

"We can either take the steps necessary to set ourselves up for success or let the resources go to other states.” The BSPRA is a subdivision of state government, not a non-profit or some other informal entity. They have monthly board meetings, several committees, and typically have representatives from the governor’s office and congressional delegation in attendance.

“To participate in the authority does NOT require any financial contribution on the part of counties. The ONLY two things a county needs to do by state law is to adopt a resolution to join the Authority and appoint someone to our board of directors. That’s it,” said Strohmaier. “The capital infrastructure investments to reestablish service would cost local governments nothing. This would be a federal-Amtrak operation, precisely like the Empire Builder (in northern Montana). How much does Flathead or Hill or Blaine county pay for the Empire Builder? Zero.”

The current planned route for passenger service goes from Missoula over Evaro Hill to Paradise not having any physical connection to Mineral County.

However, no final route has been selected, but having a seat at the table is important. For instance, even though it is unlikely that Homestake Pass will be opened, that has not deterred Jefferson, Butte-Silver Bow, and Powell counties from being in the Authority, because there is a chance that the route through their counties could be opened up and even if it isn’t, helping collaborate to get the train through Helena is a whole lot closer than having to drive to Shelby.

Concerns about the northern route being decommissioned have arisen. Strohmaier explains, “This is not a matter of trading the Empire Builder for restoration of the North Coast Hiawatha line through southern Montana. We’re proposing both, and previous studies have demonstrated that there is adequate ridership to support both.”

Not only would this route connect travelers on an Amtrak in southern Montana to go to Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and Chicago, Illinois, but would bring back routes that could see passenger trains go from Billings to Denver and Butte to Salt Lake City. That would be absolutely massive for folks in Montana.

On Friday, Sept. 24, the Mineral County Commissioners signed the resolution for membership into the BSPRA, becoming the 17th county to do so.

“After hearing from residents and business development organizations of our county, we have not only agreed to involvement, but have become very excited of the prospect of this taking place,” said Roman Zylawy, chairman of the Mineral County Commissioners and soon to be the Mineral County director on the BSPRA.

A federally funded feasibility study will take place soon which will help with the next phase and direction of the project.

The Mineral County Economic Development Corporation was the push behind the movement to the commissioners with the Mineral County Community Foundation and the St. Regis Resort District climbing ‘on board’ looking to the future of what this might mean to our area.

With the news of Idaho Forest Group closing the mill in St. Regis, uncertainty is on everyone’s mind so when an opportunity to look 10 years down the road with a no-risk investment, it's hard to not consider all options.