BUTTE, Mont. — Federal railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose and Surface Transportation Board Vice Chair Karen Hedlund are among scheduled speakers at the third annual conference of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, set for Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Hotel Finlen in Butte.
The conference will bring together passenger advocates, government officials, railroad representatives, and others interested in the authority’s efforts to restore passenger service on the former route of the North Coast Hiawatha, as well as other passenger routes. The authority’s monthly board meeting will be part of the day’s schedule.
“It is only through regional collaboration and coordination with the host railroads and policymakers that we will achieve our goal of expanding and improving passenger rail service both here in Montana and throughout the region,” said Authority Chairman Dave Strohmaier said in a press release. “And the presence at our conference of senior officials from the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, Surface Transportation Board, other agencies, and host railroads shows that our efforts and voices are being taken very seriously.”
For more information on the conference schedule, or to register, visit the authority’s website. Registration for a live stream of the event is also available.
— Updated at 8:45 a.m. to correct date in headline
The purpose of regional rail authorities in Montana is to preserve and improve abandoned rail services for agriculture, industry, or passenger traffic and to preserve the abandoned railroad right-of-way for future transportation uses, when determined to be practicable and necessary for the public welfare. Establishing the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority via joint resolution in 2020 is the first step to re-establishing passenger rail across the state.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Please correct the date in the headline
Done, and thank you for not being snarky about it.