POLITICO’s Climatewire spotlights the bipartisan durability of intercity passenger rail and names BSPRA’s Big Sky North Coast Corridor as a leading Corridor ID project.

We’re hosting listening sessions across Hi-Line communities to document transportation needs and safety concerns that passenger rail could address. Input will inform 2026 planning and outreach.

Tell your U.S. senators and representative you support long-distance rail and Montana’s Corridor ID work. Personalized messages help protect funding in upcoming debates.

North Dakota’s commitment helps advance corridor planning that connects Chicago to Seattle via the I-94 communities. This is regional progress that expands travel options, supports tourism, and strengthens local economies.

The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) at Montana State University a $6.4 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to establish a workforce development initiative that will enhance rail education and employment opportunities nationwide.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) will play a vital role in the five-year program, receiving $630,000 and providing $210,000 in in-kind contributions to steer regional workforce strategies and ensure Montana communities are integrated into this national initiative.

Train Time host Karen Christensen sat down again with Dave Strohmaier, Chair of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.

In this new episode, Dave shares how BSPRA went from vision to momentum — from being selected for the FRA’s Corridor ID & Development Program to building coalitions across Montana and the Greater Northwest. He also offers lessons on leadership and collaboration that apply to advocates across the country.

Senator Tim Sheehy has introduced S.2916, a bill that would facilitate the advancement of long-distance passenger rail projects, such as the Big Sky North Coast Corridor (BSNCC), in the federal Corridor ID program.

“This conference is an opportunity to think about very real stories and how a vision for the future of passenger rails in Montana and beyond can be turned into reality. We can accomplish that by working together,” said BSPRA Chair Dave Strohmaier, who hosted the conference. 

Actualizing passenger rail travel across Montana is a collaborative process between the Federal Rail Authority, BSPRA, BSNF and Amtrak, and involves securing funding through a variety of grants and privatized financial services.

The theme, Turning Our Stories into Action, elicited stories of communities left behind by decades of disinvestment, of young people leaving rural towns for lack of opportunity, and of senior citizens struggling to access healthcare. But rather than focusing on the negative, these stories offered a blueprint for change. Attendees weren’t just speaking about the pleasures of train travel, they were discussing how to use transportation connections to create opportunity and sustain communities.

The City of Belgrade has joined the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority’s Government Partners Program, becoming the latest Montana community to help lead the push to restore long-distance passenger rail service across the Northern Rockies and Plains.

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.