Congratulations to Mountain Line and the Missoula Urban Transportation District on being named the 2026 Large Community Transportation System of the Year by the Community Transportation Association of America

Today, we remember. 🇺🇸 This historic photograph captures "Butte’s Second Splendid Quota" of 317 men on September 29, 1917, just moments before boarding passenger trains to serve in WWI.

While often overlooked, Montana has an incredibly diverse railroad history. Its story begins with the narrow-gauge Utah & Northern, undertaken during the 1870's. This American-Rails.com guide provides a tour through that history to present-day. www.american-rails.com/mnta.html

Thank you to Barry and Marilyn Green of Glendive, Montana. Barry, a retired BNSF railroader and longtime Rail Passengers Association leader, spent a full day on Capitol Hill advocating for passenger rail, rural connectivity and the Big Sky North Coast Corridor. #PassengerRail #BigSkyRail

Passenger rail progress takes serious partners. BSPRA welcomes its MOU with AIPRO Rail, connecting public corridor leadership with the labor, manufacturing, operations and technical expertise needed to move rail projects forward. #PassengerRail #BigSkyRail #AIPRORail

Reminder: Amtrak’s Board of Directors will hold a public virtual meeting on Thursday, May 21 at 11 a.m. ET. Registration is required by Wednesday, May 20. Register here: media.amtrak.com/2026/04/amtr... #PassengerRail #Amtrak

Montana’s rail past is part of the case for what comes next. This Billings Gazette America 250 feature looks at how rail shaped Montana’s communities, economy, tourism and transportation network. billingsgazette.com/news/local/h...

Transportation choice should not be a luxury. This Guardian piece is a reminder that Americans need more practical ways to move, including transit, trains and alternatives to driving. Passenger rail is part of that future. www.theguardian.com/environment/... #PassengerRail #TransportationChoice

1,330 Montanans. 55 counties. Public transportation matters. The TIC survey shows transportation access affects medical care, jobs, education, recreation, shopping and independence. It revealed strong interest in expanded passenger rail service across Montana. docs.legmt.gov/download-tic...

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Board will meet on Wednesday, May 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MST. Agenda and join link: bigskyrailmt.gov/upcoming-mee... #PassengerRail #BigSkyNorthCoastCorridor #Montana

Passenger rail planning starts with people. PNWER RIA’s latest Bridging the Gap blog highlights BSPRA community engagement and what Montana residents shared about reliability, connectivity, affordability and access. Read the blog: www.rianorthwest.org/blog/april-26 #PassengerRail #BigSkyRail

Travel + Leisure is spotlighting Amtrak’s Empire Builder, the scenic long-distance route connecting Chicago with the Pacific Northwest through Montana and Glacier National Park. www.travelandleisure.com/amtrak-empir...

Congratulations to Ryan Fleetwood, a former BSPRA intern, on this great University of Montana profile. Ryan’s work connects geography, climate science, GIS, public service and applied research. We were fortunate to have his contributions to BSPRA’s work!. #UMontana www.umt.edu/news/2026/04...

Rail labor is clear: Congress should pass S. 3728. This bill will not move on goodwill alone. Senators need to hear from everyone who wants long-distance passenger rail restored. Contact your senators today: bigskyrailmt.gov/take-action Please share. #PassengerRail #S3728

Passenger rail is at a critical moment. In Governing, @railpassengers.org CEO Jim Mathews discusses federal funding, Corridor ID, long-distance service and host freight railroad issues. Critical context for rural states and the Big Sky North Coast Corridor. www.governing.com/in-the-weeds...

Passenger rail needs strong policy, but it also needs strong storytelling. This article from @streetsblogsf.bsky.social looks at how transit creators are using video and personal experience to reach people beyond the usual rail advocacy audience. sf.streetsblog.org/2026/04/24/t...

Congratulations to BSPRA Executive Director Jess Peterson on being named the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient by Miles Community College. Jess will be recognized at MCC’s May 2 commencement ceremony and will also serve as the commencement speaker. www.northernag.net/peterson-nam...

The Big Sky North Coast Corridor is moving forward and so is the national conversation about the future of passenger rail. bigskyrailmt.gov/spring-2026-update

Amtrak is hosting a public webinar on Hiawatha West. This map shows the corridor being advanced from Milwaukee toward Madison and beyond — part of the broader east-west passenger rail spine tied to the Big Sky North Coast Corridor. April 14 amtraknewera.com/hiawatha-west/ #PassengerRail

Connection shapes everyday life: access to health care, education, jobs, and community. BSPRA is pleased to be part of the University of Montana Democracy Summit on April 14, focused on moving from isolation to social connection. www.umt.edu/strategy/dem... #DemocracySummit #PassengerRail

Today is a good day to celebrate Montana’s communities, landscapes, and connections across this extraordinary state. From small towns to larger cities, passenger rail is part of a broader vision for mobility, access, and long-term opportunity.

Recent coverage highlights continued efforts to advance passenger rail through Bozeman, Livingston, and communities across southern Montana. www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/propone...

100+ House members are calling for full funding of Amtrak and key rail programs. An encouraging signal for passenger rail and corridor development nationwide. #PassengerRail #Amtrak www.trains.com/pro/passenge...

Montanans: the TIC public survey is STILL open. If passenger rail, public transportation, rural mobility, and transportation access matter to you, please take a few minutes to complete the survey by 12 PM noon on Friday, April 10, 2026. Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/VSYDGX6

A small grant with a bigger message. Logan Health in Kalispell received a $15,000 American Cancer Society grant to help cancer patients with transportation to treatment. www.logan.org/logan-health...

Chinook is a good example of why passenger rail planning should consider more than population alone. Small towns, museums, festivals, fairs, and seasonal travel all matter too. www.islands.com/2125961/chin...

Transit planning should reflect community needs. The Greater Helena Area MPO is seeking public input on transit needs and priorities through March 20. If you live, work, travel, or access services in the Helena region, please take a moment to complete a survey. www.greaterhelenampo.com/Plans/LRTP

Passenger rail conversations continue across western Montana. Clark Fork Valley Press & Mineral Independent recently covered a discussion in Mineral County about restoring passenger rail along Montana’s historic southern route. vp-mi.com/news/2026/ma...

Now posted: BSPRA’s Hi-Line Community Engagement Report prepared by Trillium Cooperative, supported through USDOT Build America Bureau RIA work with PNWER. Full report: bigskyrailmt.gov/hi-line-enga...

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Board will meet on Wednesday, March 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MST. The meeting is open to the public. Agenda and join link: bigskyrailmt.gov/upcoming-mee... #PassengerRail #BigSkyNorthCoastCorridor #Montana

The Big Sky North Coast Corridor is not just about Montana. We are positioned to demonstrate that the federal planning process can actually lead to implementation. Pictured: BSPRA Chairman Dave Strohmaier and Corridor ID Team Lead Jeff Schultz of David Evans & Associates, on Capitol Hill

Montana Legislature Transportation Interim Committee survey is open for public input on statewide transportation priorities. Survey background and link: content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MTL... Daily Montanan coverage: dailymontanan.com/briefs/lawma... #Montana #PublicTransportation #RuralMobility

BSPRA was on Capitol Hill this week, advancing support for passenger rail and Corridor ID. Dave Strohmaier and Jeff Schultz (David Evans and Associates) met with Senate offices to discuss S. 3728 & long-distance Corridor ID policy. Next steps coming soon. #PassengerRail #CorridorID #BigSkyNorthCoast

Big news for Havre and the Empire Builder Line Havre Terminal Passenger & Freight Efficiency Project submitted to FRA’s NRPP. If awarded: ~6 miles of a second mainline track east of the Havre station, separating freight inspections from the passenger platform and improving safety and reliability.

BSPRA submitted public comment on the Wyoming Statewide Rail Plan update. We thanked WYDOT for its focus on safety and long-range planning and emphasized the need for cross-state coordination.

What would it take to bring passenger rail back to southern Montana and strengthen connections across the region? Come meet our Chairman, Dave Strohmaier BSPRA Pint Night at 1Ō5 Brewing in Billings. Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 5–8 PM. Details: bigskyrailmt.gov/events

Bipartisan Senate legislation introduced by Sen. Tim Sheehy and Sen. Jeff Merkley would remove non-federal funding considerations for long-distance passenger rail corridors in the FRA Corridor ID program. More details soon. www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

Record ridership in 2025 shows passenger rail interest is growing. Reliability must keep pace, which is why predictable investment and corridor planning are critical. BSPRA is working to restore passenger rail in our region. www.travelandleisure.com/amtrak-rider...

With record visitation, many national parks face congestion and access issues for visitors who cannot or prefer not to drive. Rail access offers a practical alternative. Glacier National Park already benefits from Amtrak service along the Empire Builder route. www.thetravel.com/why-amtrak-a...

BSPRA 2025 Retrospective At our January 2026 board meeting, Chairman Dave Strohmaier shared BSPRA’s 2025 Retrospective, a look back at key milestones and a look ahead at priorities for the Big Sky North Coast Corridor. bigskyrailmt.gov/bspra-2025-r...

BSPRA Board Meeting (public welcome) 🗓️ Wed, January 14 11:00 a.m–12:30 p.m. MT What we’ll cover: • Hi-Line Community Engagement, Trillium Cooperative • 2025 Retrospective • Corridor ID update • PNWER-RIA subrecipient grant update • CRISI/WTI grant update • Fed-State Partnership Malta Project

When Wisconsin's GOP legislature killed its regional transit authority, passenger rail advocates regrouped with Plan B: the MARK Rail Commission, using intergovernmental agreements between cities. It's exactly what Big Sky Passenger Rail is doing in MT. pro.stateaffairs.com/wi/news/retu...

Christmas wish: private rail car. 🎄🚆 Private rail cars can still attach to Amtrak service—most people don't know this. The point? Shared infrastructure. Coach, sleeper, or private car—it all depends on a functioning network. BSPRA is working to restore the Big Sky North Coast Corridor.

Big Sky Development & Strategic Engagement Committee Chair Dan Bucks and Montana Rep. Denise Baum spoke at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) annual forum in Portland this fall. Explore PNWER Summit materials: www.rianorthwest.org/blog/nov-25

Shared with permission from The Big Timber Pioneer: a guest opinion piece by Peter D. Fox, BSPRA director and Sweet Grass County representative. Peter writes about why Sweet Grass County took “a seat at the table” and why community support will help shape what comes next. #PassengerRail #Montana

BOGO Roomette deal is back. Amtrak’s Twice as Nice sale lets you bring a travel companion free when you book a Roomette. Book by Dec. 19 for travel Jan. 4 – Mar. 31, 2026. Use code C125. media.amtrak.com/2025/12/doub... #Amtrak #TrainTravel #Roomette #SleeperCar #RailTravel #TravelDeals

Mardi Gras Service is a reminder that when passenger rail is real and reliable, people use it. In the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, we see HUGE interest from residents, students, visitors and communities wanting or needing connection! www.southernrailcommission.org/press-releas...

Missoula is a railroad town. This @bnsfrailway.bsky.social story highlights the freight corridor that powers the region and anchors the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, where we aim to bring passenger rail back. bnsf.com/news-media/r...

In Montana, distance and weather too often decide who can show up.

“Several states poised to benefit from Big Sky Passenger Rail,” highlights multi-state support, local and Tribal resolutions, heritage tourism and FRA Corridor ID planning along the former North Coast Hiawatha route. www.themunicipal.com/2025/11/seve...