The Yakima Valley Conference of Governments Transportation Policy Board has joined the growing list of organizations supporting S.3728, the Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act.

A Jamestown City Councilman called a radio show. A former U.S. Senator answered. On KFGO's News & Views, Heidi Heitkamp responded to BSPRA's Governance Committee member and citizen volunteer, David Steele, about restoring passenger rail along the North Coast Hiawatha now referred to as BSNCC.

Representing Montana on the national stage. While attending the National Association of Counties (#NACo2026) as a Missoula County Commissioner, BSPRA Chair Dave Strohmaier participated in policy discussions with county leaders from across the country.

The 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit brings together leaders from across the U.S. and Canada to discuss the future of passenger rail, freight rail, economic development, tourism, and regional connectivity. 📍 Helena, Montana 📅 August 25–27 Register: bigskyrailmt.gov/2026-gnwrs-b...

How do communities prepare for future passenger rail? They start planning before the first train arrives. Madison's Passenger Rail Station Study demonstrates how thoughtful planning can strengthen multimodal connections, improve accessibility, and support long-term economic development.

Registration is open for the 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit, Aug 25–27 in Helena, MT. Join transportation leaders, officials, and regional partners for three days on the future of passenger & freight rail. Register: bigskyrailmt.gov/2026-gnwrs-b... #BigSkyRail #PNWER #Railway #TrainTravel

2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit & BSPRA Annual Conference — Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

bigskyrailmt.gov

BSPRA Board Meeting: Wednesday, July 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MDT, virtually via Microsoft Teams. On the agenda: Corridor ID update BSPRA 2027 preliminary budget presentation PNWER-RIA and CRISI grant updates Join: bigskyrailmt.gov/upcoming-meetings/jpsaw-obeel8tkytzststxhb9f-zhlx8

Theodore Roosevelt arrived by train. This week, history did it again. Today, the @trpl.bsky.social officially opens in Medora on America’s 250th birthday.

Passenger rail continues to be part of Montana's statewide transportation conversation. News From The States highlights a statewide survey showing passenger rail was the transportation option Montanans were most interested in using. www.newsfromthestates.com/article/surv...

Survey shows Montanans interested in more public transit

Some Montana legislators want to expand state funding for public transportation projects and a recent public survey that came as part of a legislative study bill, shows support in communities for incr...

newsfromthestates.com

The 2025 Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Annual Report is now available. Read about progress on the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, federal planning, partnerships, legislative engagement, workforce development and community outreach. Read the report: simplebooklet.com/bspra2025ann...

Registration is open for the 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit and BSPRA Annual Conference. August 25–27, 2026 Helena, Montana Co-hosted by BSPRA and the PNWER Regional Infrastructure Accelerator. Learn more and register: bigskyrailmt.gov/2026-gnwrs-b... #PassengerRail #BigSkyRail #Montana

BNSF Railway’s America 250 locomotive rolled through Missoula this week. Rail continues to connect communities, economies and stories across Montana and the Greater Northwest. Video and photos courtesy of Commissioner Dave Strohmaier. #BigSkyRail #BNSF #America250 #PassengerRail

Rail helped make a big country feel connected. The whistle-stop tradition reminds us that passenger rail has always been about more than transportation. It connects communities, civic life and public institutions across long distances. That lesson holds true now!

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library@trpl.bsky.social · 2mo ago

#OTD in 1903, TR's Western Tour barreled across Iowa — Denison, Fort Dodge, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Dubuque — the President speaking from the back of the train, town after town. #TheodoreRoosevelt #DareGreatly

Looking for a Father’s Day, graduation or summer travel gift? The BSPRA shop includes official merchandise, Empire Builder items available with gratitude to artist Michael Schwab and Greater Northwest rail gifts created especially for BSPRA by Xplorer Maps. bigskyrailmt.gov/shop

Borealis is proof of demand. Amtrak’s Borealis has carried more than 416,000 passengers since launching in '24. Corridor ridership now approaches 1.8 million annually. When service is useful and connected to where people need to go, people use it. www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/...

Rail News - Amtrak's Borealis surpasses expectations for second year. For Railroad Career Professionals

Progressive Railroading Daily News

progressiverailroading.com

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

Montana Scenic Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

Presented in this guide is information pertaining to all available train rides and railroad museums located within the state of Montana. Found out everything you need to know here!

american-rails.com

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...

The rise and fall of an empire: A history of the rail industry in Montana

The Northern Pacific Railroad, first chartered by Congress in 1864 and the northernmost of the country’s land-grant railroads, first crossed into the eastern part of Montana territory in 1881.

billingsgazette.com

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

How car-loving American cities fell so far behind their global peers on public transit

With most major European cities well served by trains and buses, bringing US transit up to par would cost $4.6tn

theguardian.com

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

All Aboard! Amplifying Community Voices Along the Regional Rail Corridor — Regional Infrastructure Accelerator

Charting the future of rail travel across our region – This month’s blog features a new community engagement report led by our project partners at Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA), capturing...

rianorthwest.org

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...

This 2,200-mile Train Ride Is the Most Scenic in the Northern U.S.—and It Passes an Iconic National Park

The Amtrak Empire Builder train travels from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest, passing national parks, small towns, cities, lakes, and more along the long-distance route.

travelandleisure.com

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...

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Propel UM Graduate Toward Ph.D.

umt.edu

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...

What Does the Future of U.S. Passenger Rail Look Like?

Jim Mathews, the president and CEO of the Rail Passengers Association, is worried about funding cuts and a potential freight rail merger. But he says passenger rail is in a better place than it’s been...

governing.com