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July 2023 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPrepared byPrepared for Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority in partnership with Montana State University Extension with grant award from Montana Healthcare FoundationBoom cover photo courtesy of Visit Southeast Montana/Nathan Satran
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE IContentsAbout the Project 1Executive Summary 2Participant/Meeting Summary 5Community Engagement Key Findings 7Lessons Learned 11Appendices 14Appendix A. Meeting Agenda/Questions & Survey Template 15Appendix B. Individual Meeting Summaries 25Appendix C. Meeting Notices/Invitations 56Appendix D. Meeting Participants 60Appendix E. Survey Report/Summary 66
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE About the ProjectIn 2018, county com-missioners across southern Montana began discussions to reintroduce passenger rail service across the southern tier of the state. In the fall of 2020, interested counties created the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA), which now has 20 member counties, and is geographically the largest transportation district in Montana. BSPRA is leading the charge to expand and enhance passenger rail service throughout Montana and the greater northwest re-gion. BSPRA believes that re-establishment of safe, reliable, and sustainable passenger rail service across southern Montana will increase oppor-tunities and contribute to the health and well-being of people across the state and beyond. In 2023, BSPRA received a grant from the Montana Healthcare Foundation (MHCF) to conduct public outreach with the purpose of better understanding the nature and significance of renewal of service along the previous North Coast Hiawatha route as it pertains to the economic and social well-being (“social determinants of health”) for residents in the rural and tribal communities along the rail corridor. BSPRA held public meetings in six communities, including three in tribal/reservation communities. All meetings offered a virtual attendance option. In addition, following meetings, an online survey was provided to all attendees allowing for additional feedback and for distribution to others who were unable to attend any of the scheduled meetings. While other reports both at the national and state level have touched on the social impacts of passenger rail, this project, and the corresponding feedback received, is BSPRA’s first attempt at formally and directly gathering important public sentiment, providing a baseline understanding of benefits and concerns related to reestablishing passenger rail in southern Montana and creating a template for future public engagement related to long-distance passenger rail service. The timing of this effort and this report is in direct correlation to the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021, part of which (Section 22214) directs the US Department of Transportation to conduct a study for evaluating and selecting long-distance passenger rail routes for possible restoration. The Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study will consider:1. Links and service to large and small communities as part of a regional rail network;2. Advancement of the economic and social well-being of rural areas in the United States;3. Providing of enhanced connectivity for the national long-distance passenger rail system; 4. Reflection of public engagement and local support for restored passenger rail service. received a grant in 2023 fromto conduct public outreachCreated in 202020 member countiesPublic meetings held in six communities throughout Montana, in partnership with
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Executive SummaryBSPRA’s vision is to transform the economy and quality of life across the American West by expanding passenger rail within Montana and encouraging companion efforts in other states through an interstate rail consultation process. Because of Montana’s strategic location and expanse, it plays a critical role in creating a true national passenger rail network that can equitably serve all areas and people. Public transportation projects have long been the impetus for dramatic economic growth and a vital means by which individuals and communities can be connected. The ability for smaller/rural and tribal communities to access essential services in larger urban centers, and for residents in the urban centers to connect to the culture of smaller communities, is a significant part of social well-being, and creates community capital that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion across the country.With the assistance of the MHCF grant, BSPRA began the process of directly exploring, through significant public engagement, how renewing the North Coast Hiawatha service might improve the economic and social well-being in rural and tribal communities throughout southern Montana, both by revitalizing those communities and linking them with healthcare and other essential services and amenities in larger communities. The goal of the process was to explore how connectivity to not just Montana communities but to the larger national rail network might: Additionally, direct public engagement (in multiple venues, locations, and formats) allowed BSPRA to assess the level of local support, gauge interest, and determine if there were any identified local barriers that should be considered moving forward.&IMPROVE the ability of rural and tribal Montanans to access the rest of the nation, further increasing the economic and social well-being of impacted communitiesINCREASE national and global visitors to rural and tribal Montana
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Between May and July of 2023, BSPRA and its primary partner, Montana State University (MSU) Extension, conducted meetings in six locations, including three reservation communities, allowing participants to attend in person or virtually. Additionally, BSPRA distributed an online survey which allowed for additional feedback from participants and for distribution to individuals unable to attend any of the scheduled meetings. Meetings were publicized in advance and held in both western and eastern Montana locations that included Paradise, Ronan (Flathead Reservation), Forsyth, Glendive, Lame Deer (Northern Cheyenne Reservation), and Garryowen (Crow Reservation). For purposes of this report, all handwritten notes, survey results, and meeting recordings were transcribed and then collated to create a high-level overview of common themes and ideas as presented by the public as it relates to support for the reinstatement of passenger rail in this region and reasons why people would be interested in utilizing passenger rail should it be available. A complete list of questions asked at public meetings and in the survey, and individual responses/input from each meeting can be found in Appendix A and Appendix B, as attached.Meeting facilitators utilized the same questions to start conversation; however, each meeting took on a life of its own and, once participants were comfortable, they eagerly provided additional insights and information, resoundingly supporting BSPRA efforts and openly discussing the myriad of ways in which the reinstatement of passenger rail would positively impact their communities, their families, their health, and their overall quality of life. It is of note that, particularly for participants living on reservations, the opportunity to more readily, safely, and easily access medical care was a driving factor in their support of passenger rail. American Indians now have the highest diabetes prevalence rates of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States with more than 16 percent of this population having been diagnosed as compared to 8 percent of the remaining population. Additionally, Native Americans are twice as likely to suffer from kidney failure (as diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure), causing nearly 40 percent of cases in the United States (www.diabetesjournal.org, 2021). Several participants of meetings in Ronan (Flathead Reservation) and Lame Deer (Northern Cheyenne Reservation) specifically MEETING LOCATIONS
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE mentioned the opportunity to access high-level medical care for dialysis and transplants by utilizing passenger rail and the related cost savings, safety improvement, and overall reliability of this form of transportation.While there was limited conversation expressing concerns related to logistics of passenger rail restoration (e.g., depots, ground transportation to and from train stops, and impact to the existing Empire Builder service along Montana’s “Hi-Line”), individuals who participated in the public meetings and who completed surveys were overwhelmingly supportive of the opportunity to utilize passenger rail in their communities. It was clear to facilitators and from the meeting transcripts and notes that rural and tribal communities in this region would experience increased social well-being, economic opportunity, and connectivity provided by safer, more reliable, more economical public transportation provided by passenger rail.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Participant/Meeting Summary BSPRA, in partnership with MSU Extension, conducted facilitated public meetings in six different locations, including three meetings on Montana Indian reservations. Meetings were advertised in advance (see Appendix C for copies of the meeting invitations) and were available for both in-person and virtual attendees. A total of 84 community members attended meetings in person and an additional 20 attended virtually (Zoom). There were 98 survey respondents. Meetings were held between the end of May and the beginning of July 2023 and surveys were accepted through July 10, 2023. (See Appendix D for a complete list of meeting participants and Appendix E for the full survey report summary). Of the 98 survey respondents, 32 percent identified as over the age of 65, followed by 21 percent between 55–65, an additional 12 percent ages 46–55, 19 percent 36–45, 9 percent 26–35, and 8 percent 20–25. Participants at the in-person/Zoom meetings were not asked to disclose their age, however, in discussion with facilitators of the public meetings, the consensus was that attendees ages at the public meetings were in close correlation with those who responded to the survey. There is also the likelihood that there are some duplicate survey respondents and meeting attendees as people attending the public meetings were encouraged to utilize the survey should they have additional comments/information they wished to provide. While it is uncertain when or how passenger rail service would operate in the southern part of Montana, facilitators provided some basic hopes/assumptions to meeting participants in hopes of addressing basic questions and spurring discussion. For purposes of these meetings, facilitators indicated that the ideal schedule would include twice daily service in each direction. Additionally, there was an assumption that trains could be relied upon to be on time and to operate during inclement weather conditions, providing reasonable weather resiliency. While participants were encouraged to speak freely, ask question, and provide any/all information and comments they desired, meeting facilitators at each location did utilize the same questions to open conversation:1. If passenger rail was affordable and accessible through southern Montana, would you use it? If so, why? If not, why not? What would make it attractive for you to use?2. How and why would passenger rail benefit you and your community? How might you benefit personally? What social and economic benefits are possible for your community? What environmental impacts would you expect?3. How would passenger rail enhance health outcomes? What are the short-term impacts to you and your community from improved access to health care services? How could it contribute to a broader sense of personal and community health?4. Do you currently have access to or use public transportation of any type?
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE 5. How might passenger rail be more attractive than current options?6. First-/last-mile: A successful passenger rail system must consider access to and from the train station. How would you prefer to travel to and from the train station? Would you utilize a local public transit option? What reasonable transportation option come to mind? (e.g., rideshare, public bus/van, etc.) 7. What amenities would you find beneficial? What amenities are needed at train stations? What amenities would be helpful on trains themselves?8. What destinations would you like to see rural Montana communities access via passenger rail? Besides the North Coast Hiawatha (east-west route), are there other long-distance passenger rail routes you’d find of value? For instance, Butte to Salt Lake City (or to the north to Calgary) or Billings to Denver (or Calgary to Denver/El Paso)9. Is there anything the BSPRA should be considering that has not been addressed?Online survey questions were the same as those asked during public meetings to ensure consistency of inquiry.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Community Engagement Key FindingsGood health and well-being are the result a myriad of personal (biological, genetic), social, economic, policy, and environmental factors. Not only is transportation itself a critical determinant of health, but it also impacts almost every other social determinant by either providing or hindering access to service or destinations. A 2019 survey by Kaiser Permanente showed that:Montana is a rural state. In fact, Montana is considered frontier (along with Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado), exemplifying sparsely populated areas that are geographically isolated from population centers and services. According to the National Center for Mobility Management, social isolation and loneliness lead to poorer population health outcomes, greater mortality, and greater health care spending. Particularly older adults face unique risks related to social isolation and loneliness, because of the many major life transitions they are likely to experience, including retirement, death of a spouse, death of other social contacts, and changing health and functional abilities. (https://nationalcenterformobilitymanagement.org/) A 2019 poll by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, which surveyed 509 older adults over the age of 60 and younger adults with disabilities, found that those who, because they never or no longer drive, face barriers getting around experience feelings of physical isolation, frustration, and being trapped. (https://www.nadtc.org/) According to the US Census Bureau, Montana holds the distinction of grayest state in the West, driven by several rural counties that have considerably older residents than Montana as a whole. The median Montanan (again according to the US Census Bureau) is 41.3 years of age, 3 years older than the national average. For this reason, public transportation services, particularly in rural/frontier areas, may be a literal lifeline for individuals who have no other means of connecting to other communities. Access to services, activities, amenities, and family and friends allows for individuals to participate in life sustaining and enriching activities. Activities that include employment or volunteering, food access, personal ap-pointments, and social events create a sense of purpose that boost an individual’s mental outlook and cognitive function, as well as promoting enhanced physical health. In addition to the clear health benefits of public transportation, the ability to connect to multiple communities, both urban connections with rural and rural connections with urban, are a means to economic development and growth. According to a 2009 report completed by the American Public Transportation Association, “Public transportation services are important in that they provide mobility, can shape land use and development patterns, generate jobs and enable economic growth, and support public policies regarding energy use, air quality, =Social needs are predictors of physical and mental health.Those experiencing unmet social needs were twice as likely to rate their health as fair or poor compared to those who did not.Americans view social needs, such as housing and transportation, as equally important to their health as medical care.Kaiser Permanente-Social Needs in America
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE and carbon emissions.” That same report goes on to elaborate on key findings, indicating that investment in public transportation, if sustained over time, can affect the economy by providing: 1. Business operating cost savings associated with worker wage and reliability, 2. Business productivity gained from access to broader labor markets with more diverse skills, and 3. Additional regional business growth enabled by indirect impacts of business to growth in supplies.” (American Public Transportation Association Benefits of Public Transportation)According to the Montana Department of Commerce in a 2022 report, non-resident tourism spending in Montana (in 2021) was approximately $5.15 billion, supporting 47,810 jobs in the State. This does not include considerable spending by resident tourists who take advantage of the vacation/tourism opportunities in their own backyard. Tourism currently accounts for just under 5 percent of the total state revenues. (Montana Department of Commerce 2021 Economic Impact) While utilization of personal vehicles is still the first choice for people traveling for leisure throughout the state, the Academic Journal of Economic Studies (2018, Vol. 4, Issue 4) highlights the potential impact/importance of specifically rail transportation on the tourism industry, saying:For tourism, trains, through their superior transport capacity, have the ability to convincingly respond to tourism. Additionally, this report highlights those interdependent issues that impact the decision to utilize public/rail service over selecting other means of transport, highlighting that tourists specifically consider:The distance to be travelledThe time factor (can the trip be carried out in the desired time)The availability and accessibility of the serviceSafety and regularity/consistencyComfortGiven all these factors, it should come as no surprise that most people who attended meetings and/or completed surveys associated with this project were in support of the reinstatement of passenger rail in the southern portion of Montana, citing both personal and community reasons. Transcripts of the meeting recordings, a summary report of the survey responses, and some specific comments from meetings can be found in the appendices. Flip-chart notes from each meeting are not included in the appendices; however, are available upon request. In summary, common themes related to the benefits of passenger rail as expressed in most/all of this series of meetings included: z Increased access to health care/medical services, including the ability to see pro-viders in-person vs. utilizing tele-health resources; this was considered particu-larly advantageous for elderly individuals and veterans. z Increased access to employment/employ-ment opportunities and education (in-cluding the ability for college students to get to/from various educational facilities and come home more frequently, less ex-pensively and more safely). z Generally safer, more consistent, and pre-dictable transportation especially in the winter months (during which time many people are more isolated because of the inherent dangers of driving during this time).
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE z Increased ability to attend important fam-ily and community events (most predomi-nantly sporting events/tournaments which often take place significant distances from home communities). This also included increased safety for high school/college teams traveling for games/tournaments. z Opportunities for economic development, including bringing residents (not just tourists) from the rural communities to urban centers and bringing people from the urban centers to the rural communi-ties; connecting regions and the state. z Increased workforce opportunities direct-ly related to industries that would support, and be employed by, passenger train service. z Reduction of green-house gases and car-bon emissions related to significant individu-al vehicle use. z Increased access to ame-nities, cultural events, dining options, and other community-connecting opportuni-ties. This includes opportunities while on the train that would allow riders to con-nect, meet new people, better provide for their children, and move more freely than if they were driving/riding in a personal vehicle or bus. z Increased equity and ability for people to connect even if they do not own a personal vehicle or no longer drive, opening doors for opportunities to better connect with services and with family/friends, reducing isolation and related depression, z Increased affordability related to reduc-tion of vehicle wear and tear and personal vehicle fuel expenditures. z Decreased travel costs, especially as this relates to the current cost of air travel even from community to community within the state. z Opportunities to better enjoy travel with less stress, more fun, beautiful vistas, and the ability to see scenery in Montana that cannot be seen from the primary highways. z The ability to have “found time” as trav-elers could work on the train instead of wasting valuable time driving.In concurrence with the information outlined in the 2018 Academic Journal of Economic Studies article, people who attended meetings and responded to the survey indicated that their choice to use passenger rail over their own vehicles depended on a variety of factors including cost, time of travel, access to/from the pick-up/drop-off locations, security, and amenities. Perhaps not surprisingly, in terms of amenities on/off the trains, participants/respondents most frequently listed the desire for free wi-fi, charging ports, affordable/safe parking at the stations, food (meal)/drink options on the train, public restrooms at the stations and on the train, pet friendly cars, ample storage space on the train for items such as bicycles/gifts, ADA accessibility/easy boarding for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, indoor waiting areas at the stations, and, given the frequency that access to medical care/healthcare providers was mentioned, private/medically focused spaces or cars. This point will become particularly important as part of designing new long-distance passenger rail rolling stock.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE In terms of destinations most requested for passenger rail, outside the ability to travel between Montana communities, which was most often discussed, survey respondents and meeting attendees were most interested in out-of-state connections to Denver, Spokane, the greater Seattle area, Chicago, Portland, and Salt Lake City (as shown in the Top Destinations chart). Additional communities outside Montana that were listed included Boise, South Dakota, Canada, Michigan, and Iowa. While over 90 percent of attendees/respondents were enthusiastically in support of the reinstatement of passenger rail services, there were some participants who expressed concerns or, at a minimum, had additional questions they would require answers to before fully supporting such a project. Again, specific comments/questions can be found in the meeting notes in the appendix, but in aggregate, the most common of these questions and concerns included: z How would passengers get to/from the station/depot? Many older individuals and/or people in extremely rural areas don’t generally utilize or have available ride-share options such as Uber or Lyft. If people utilize their personal vehicles to get to the station, when they arrive at their destination, is there a means by which there could be shuttle service/transporta-tion to/from medical facilities and/or oth-er community services? z How would the railroad/train service ad-dress increased safety needs related to livestock and train crossings? Should the line follow the previous route, it will cut through significant ranching/farming ar-eas. Railroad crossing and track safety is a concern. z Will this service conflict or compete with the existing Empire Builder line for fund-ing/services? While BSPRA has indicated they don’t believe this is an issue, some participants were not convinced and con-tinue to have concerns reinstatement of rail in southern Montana will negatively impact existing passenger rail in the state. z Where would stations/depots be located? Would there be a stop close enough to some of the “off highway” communities that they would be convenient, useful, and accessible? z Will service be affordable and what is the speed at which trains would be able to run? If the service is too expensive and/or the trip would take too long, this would be a barrier to ridership. In contrast, there was some opposition to high-speed rail as it would detract from the ability to experi-ence the natural beauty of Montana and is contrary to the culture of the area. z Related to overall cost, what is the esti-mated cost for infrastructure related to reinstatement of passenger rail? How will this impact resident taxes (as property taxes in Montana are already perceived as too high)?
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE z What would be the security protocols for ridership and for station access/parking? While participants weren’t necessarily interested in security as rigid as air trav-el, security was expressed as an essential need (related to parking/stations, getting on the train and while on the train) for ridership support. z What kind of agreements/right-of-way/access contracts would be utilized, par-ticularly on tribal lands? Related to this, would the route be the same as the pre-vious North Coast Hiawatha or would it change requiring new construction and ac-cess/right-of-way? Specific to tribal lands, there has been some history of agreements that were not to the tribes’ advantage. This would need to be discussed further.While representatives of BSPRA were able to answer some questions and speculate regarding others, given the project is currently in the early planning stages, there are several questions to which there are currently no concrete answers and that should be considered as the project and related community conversations move forward.Lessons LearnedPublic engagement and public participation are processes, not a single event. While the series of meetings and surveys provided by BSPRA and their partners is an excellent first step in that process, it is clear there is more work to be done. Additional opportunities to engage the public in the discussion surrounding the reinstatement of passenger rail in southern Montana will continue to be critical in first educating the public as to the work of the BSPRA and ensuring that the public plays a key role in the decision-making process moving forward for the lifespan of the project. Additionally, especially in rural states/communities, the public has significant influence, often determining the success of initiatives and projects through their support or lack thereof. In a project of this magnitude and one in which the outcome has such significant impact on such a wide variety of individuals and communities, it will be important that BSPRA and its member and partner communities, continue to seek and implement public engagement activities frequently. Additionally, it will be important moving forward that efforts include the availability of multiple venues, meeting types (scheduled and pop-
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE in), a strong online and virtual opportunities to engage. Perhaps most importantly, future engagement should continue to reach out to populations that are considered vulnerable and/or underserved. The “public” consists of a range of stakeholders holding an array of views and concerns on any given issue. For that reason, ensuring that public engagement is meaningful includes serious consideration of how to be as inclusive as possible. In short, not all public participation/engagement is created equal. Additional public engagement activities should seek ways in which to be even more inclusive, more diverse in ways in which information can be provided and received, and less time constrained. Many of the public meetings in this series experienced logistic issues that, although facilitators addressed and handled admirably, should be considered more thoroughly as the project moves forward. For future public engagement efforts, the following should be considered: z Additional and longer notice of scheduled meetings and development of invitation lists in advance utilizing community part-ners to identify key stakeholders, partner agencies, and already established mailing/email lists that might be utilized to ensure maximum notification. A major factor driving the critical path for completing the current project was the timeline for the federal long-distance study and the need to provide the Federal Railroad Adminis-tration feedback as soon as possible. z Specific to tribal engagement, consider-ing both longer lead time in coordinating meetings, but also, and more importantly, engaging individuals with relationships with tribal leadership and community leaders will be important. Relationship building takes time, which simply may not be possible within the current time horizons. Consequently, for future efforts, facilitators/planners should consider con-tacting or contracting with individuals who already have established relation-ships with tribal leadership. z Incorporation of “pop-up” opportunities or “meetings in a box” in which potential stakeholders are not required to attend (either in person or virtually) scheduled public meetings, but instead, facilitators and surveys are provided at common com-munity locations in which the public is already found. By way of example, BSPRA and/or their community/county partners could partner with a local coffee shop and greet people between 6–8 a.m. when customers arrive for their morning coffee, providing them a “take away” informa-tional piece, asking them to complete a short survey, and providing the incentive of purchasing their coffee for a completed survey. z Continued bolstering of BSPRA’s online and community presence. More and more residents rely on online opportunities both to get information and to provide it. Inter-active programs, such as Social Pinpoint, allow interested community members the opportunity to get vital project informa-tion AND to provide feedback online for the lifespan of the project. z Ironically, given the number of people relying on virtual opportunities and in-formation, and performing their jobs remotely, broadband continues to be an issue. For several of the meetings in this series, there were technical issues related to no/intermittent connection issues and, in some cases, poor audio quality. If meet-ings are going to allow for a virtual option (which they should), it will be important to consider the quality of the equipment/programs being used and the consistency of connectivity to ensure that virtual par-ticipants can engage fully and that their
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE comments can be understood and record-ed consistently. More lead time and oppor-tunity to test equipment and connectivity would also help in mitigating these issues. z While conversations during the meetings were generally robust and garnered the requested information, it’s clear from the transcripts that each facilitator had a very different approach and there were not clear “duties” outlined prior to the meeting. To the degree possible, it will be helpful mov-ing forward to ensure all facilitators fully understand their role, are able to engage the public meaningfully, and that someone is assigned specifically to documenting re-sponses to eliminate any ambiguity. This will ensure consistency of understanding in different groups and the ability to sum-marize meeting outcomes more effectively.Lastly, it is important to recognize how many individuals who attended meetings and/or completed a survey, have a very personal and impactful story related to passenger rail. Several participants and survey respondents recalled personal experiences with passenger rail travel: some of those in Montana and many with experiences out of state or out of the country. Living in Ireland and Europe, I used the train as my primary means of travel. It was faster than bus and a way for me to work and chat with friends. Having to commute across Montana in the winter makes the drives tedious and difficult. Rail would allow me and others to commute for business and not have to drive. (Survey respondent) Every time I’ve ever used train to travel, I’ve enjoyed it and found it convenient. I would love this option in Montana. (Survey respondent)The value of these memories and stories should not be lost or disregarded as they are a powerful testament to the importance of passenger rail, not just as a means of public transportation that is safe and convenient, but a way in which people and communities connect, build strong relationships, grow economic prosperity, and create memories that last a lifetime and through generations.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE AppendicesA. Meeting Agenda/Questions & Survey TemplateB. Individual Meeting Summaries (transcribed from Zoom recordings)B.1. Flathead Reservation/RonanB.2. ForsythB.3. GlendiveB.4. Northern Cheyenne Reservation/Lame DeerB.5. Crow Reservation/GarryowenB.6. ParadiseC. Meeting Notices/InvitationsD. Meeting ParticipantsE. Survey Report/Summary
Appendix A. Meeting Agenda/Questions & Survey Template
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE BIG SKY PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY Community Meeting AGENDA Meeting Objectives: • To listen to and learn from communities the benefits and barriers to providing passenger rail to southern MT. • To identify and discuss personal, social, economic, environmental benefits to restored passenger rail. Time Topics 10:00 AM Registration Coffee and Pastries Welcome & Introductions Purpose and Objectives for Today’s Discussion Participant Introductions BSPRA Presentation Facilitated Small Group Discussion: Part 1 Noon Working Meal Facilitated Small Group Discussion: Part 2 Brief Report Out Wrap Up Next Steps 1:00 PM Adjourn Assumptions for Group Discussion 1. Passenger train service will be a train twice a day in both directions. 2. Trains will reliably travel through all weather conditions. 3. Passengers can rely on a consistent schedule. 4. Trains will offer uninterrupted Wi-Fi connection. 5. Train fares will be affordable. Link to survey application: https://www.jotform.com/app/231696499390169
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Questions for Facilitated Discussion: Please use the following questions in your small groups to discuss benefits and impacts of passenger rail in your community. 1. If passenger rail was affordable and accessible through southern Montana, would you use it? • If so, why? If not, why not? • What would make it attractive for you to use? 2. How and why would passenger rail benefit you and your community? • How might you benefit personally? • What social and economic benefits are possible for your community? • What environmental impacts would you expect? 3. How would passenger rail enhance health outcomes? • What are the short-term impacts to you and your community from improved access to health care services? • How could it contribute to a broader sense of personal and community health? 4. Do you currently have access to or use public transportation of any type? • How might passenger rail be more attractive than current options? 5. First-/last-mile: A successful passenger rail system must consider access to and from the train station. • How would you prefer to travel to and from the train station? • Would you utilize a local public transit option? • What reasonable transportation option come to mind? E.g., Rideshare, public bus/van, etc. 6. What amenities would you find beneficial? • What amenities are needed at train stations? • What amenities would be helpful on trains themselves? 7. What destinations would you like to see rural Montana communities’ access via passenger rail? • Besides the North Coast Hiawatha (east-west route), are there other long-distance passenger rail routes you’d find of value? For instance: Butte to Salt Lake City (or to the north to Calgary) Billings to Denver (or Calgary to Denver/El Paso) 8. Is there anything the BSPRA should be considering that has not been addressed?
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE BIG SKY PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY Community Meeting Draft INTERNAL AGENDA Draft AGENDA Meeting Objectives: • To listen to and learn from communities the benefits and barriers to providing passenger rail to southern MT. • To identify and discuss personal, social, economic, environmental benefits to restored passenger rail. Registration Coffee and Pastries 20 Min Welcome & Introductions • Welcome/Prayer by hosting tribe or community (tribal elder, mayor, county commissioner, etc.) • Thank you for coming and participating in this very important discussion • This meeting is sponsored by the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority • BSPRA Mission & Purpose (2 minute elevator speech) MHF is funding this discussion to inform the BSPRA as they apply for funding with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to study the restoration of passenger rail across southern MT. 10 Min Purpose and Objectives for Today’s Discussion 20 Min Participant Introductions 15 Min BSPRA Presentation • History of passenger rail in MT • Current situation with BSPRA working to restore • Near future efforts of BSPRA and others: FRA Grant, ? • Big picture vision 20 years down the track • Maps • What is possible for passenger rail restoration 40 Min Facilitated Discussion Part 1: Facilitator will adjust based on group size. Medium to large group: tabletop discussion – discuss each question and group scribe writes consensus answers on flipcharts. Very small group, study circle style group discussion. 1. If passenger rail was affordable and accessible through southern Montana, would you use it? • If so, why? If not, why not? • What would make it attractive for you to use? 2. How and why would passenger rail benefit you and your community? • How might you benefit personally? • What social and economic benefits are possible for your community? • What environmental impacts would you expect? 3. How would passenger rail enhance health outcomes?
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE • What are the short-term impacts to you and your community from improved access to health care services? • How could it contribute to a broader sense of personal and community health? 4. Do you currently have access to or use public transportation of any type? • How might passenger rail be more attractive than current options? 5. First-/last-mile: A successful passenger rail system must consider access to and from the train station. • How would you prefer to travel to and from the train station? • Would you utilize a local public transit option? • What reasonable transportation option come to mind? E.g., Rideshare, public bus/van, etc. 30 Min Working Meal 20 Min Facilitated Discussion Part 2: 6. What amenities would you find beneficial? • What amenities are needed at train stations? • What amenities would be helpful on trains themselves? 7. What destinations would you like to see rural Montana communities’ access via passenger rail? • Besides the North Coast Hiawatha (east-west route), are there other long-distance passenger rail routes you’d find of value? For instance: Butte to Salt Lake City (or to the north to Calgary) Billings to Denver (or Calgary to Denver/El Paso) 8. Is there anything the BSPRA should be considering that has not been addressed? 15 Min Brief Report Out 10 Min Next Steps & Wrap Up Adjourn
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Personal InformationFull Name *First Name Last NameE-mail *example@example.comAge RangeAddress - Zip Code Required *Street AddressStreet Address Line 2City State / ProvincePostal / Zip CodePhone NumberWould passenger rail provide a benefit to your community?Interest and benefits1. If passenger rail was affordable and accessible through southern Montana, would you use it?YesNoMaybePlease describe why or why notCreate your own automated PDFs with Jotform PDF Editor- It’s free1Please Select
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Passenger Rail Service would benefit my community in these ways:Economic Opportunity (jobs, downtown biz, etc) Greater access to healthcare facilitiesMore public transit options Reduced road trafficWouldn't need to drive to airport More affordable than driving or flyingOther, Please describe below Improves our environmentOther benefitsPassenger Rail Service would enhance health outcome in the following ways:No need for personal vehicle to make appointments Greater access to healthcare workersImproved social life Senior and handicap friendlyEasier to plan appointments Reduced IsolationFewer Vehicle Deaths Revitalized rural communitiesOther, Please describe belowOther health outcomesHow would you get to the station?A successful passenger rail system must consider access to and from the train station.How would you get to and from a train station?Drive and park at station Friend/Family Drive and Pick UpBike and lock at station WalkOther, Please describe belowOther ways of getting to stationWhat forms of public transportation are currently available in your community?Bus/Shuttle TaxiTrain Horse BuggyCreate your own automated PDFs with Jotform PDF Editor- It’s free2
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Other public transport optionsIf public transportation to the rail station were available, would you use it?YesNoMaybeWhat would make passenger rail service attractive for you to use?Amenities, Destinations, etc.What would make passenger rail attractive for you to use?Destination Depots Other, Please describe below AffordabilityPet Friendly Safe Parking Space Ticket KioskFull ADA compliant 24/7 Facility Public RestroomsOther attractionsWhat ammenities would you like to see offered on passenger rail systems?Free Wifi Meals SnacksTable service Guided Tours SecurityCharging Ports In seat entertainment Pay phonesObservation Car Other, Please describe below Vending MachinesLuggage Storage or Check Sleeping Car Reading MaterialsOther AmenitiesWhat destinations would you like to have available via passenger rail?Spokane Portland Greater Seattle AreaSalt Lake City Denver Greater Chicago AreaLas Vegas Other, Please describe below Milwaukee/MadisonMinneapolis/St. PaulOther DestinationsCreate your own automated PDFs with Jotform PDF Editor- It’s free3
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE What Montana destination would you like to have available?Billings Great Falls BozemanMissoula Kalispell WhitefishHelena Glacier National Park Yellowstone National ParkOther (Please list below)What other Montana destinations would you like to have available?Do you have a train story that you can share with us?You can write or record your story and share below. Audio and Visual files can be dropped in the "Story Upload" section.How would you prefer to share your story?Phone call with BSPRA representativeI'll send an emailI'll write my story belowI'll record myself and drop in "Share Story"My train storyThank You!Additional questions or comments?By submitting this form, you are added to our mailing list and will be kept informed on all news and events concerning the Big Sky Passenger Rail ServicePlease remove me from the list.DateCreate your own automated PDFs with Jotform PDF Editor- It’s free4
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Appendix B. Individual Meeting SummariesB.1. Flathead Reservation/RonanB.2. ForsythB.3. GlendiveB.4. Northern Cheyenne Reservation/Lame DeerB.5. Crow Reservation/GarryowenB.6. Paradise
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Flathead Reservation (Ronan) Meeting (hard to hear) Facilitator Introductions: Martin Charlo, Representing the Tribal community and an ex-officio member of the BSPRA Dave Strohmaier, Commissioner from Missoula County BSPRA Introduction: (Video) Passenger rail has lost a lot of infrastructure and routes over the years. Early 1960s it was robust system, several decades later 1990 significantly less rail. Today long and shorter distance through Amtrak. This Map shows a large void for people who live all over and that is why we’re here. 43 years ago, in 1979 we lost passenger rail services, people from Chicago to NW, want to bring it back and make it a part of our portfolio. Several years ago, what can we do different this time around? Create a rail authority in the state of MT. Other states have that, but we did not. In the fall of 2020, we create the first passenger rail authority which right now has 20 counties. Largest transportation district in state of Montana. This is a great success story to show that MT can work together to fix issues. On the Map orange shows the Hiawatha trail. Why passenger rail? Shown across the nation to have value presently and hope to have it in the future. Transportation option that spans the tradition system of airline highway system. Economically, what are the economic returns on this investment. Did a study, and it shows at start up, we can expect 270 million to benefit – passing 44 million to MT 400,000 riders. Why else? In MT we understand winter driving isn’t safe. Passenger rail would be a way to enjoy traveling for once. Tim in Belgrade MT, said as a businessperson or employee, you can conduct work while you travel. Easy solution to travel in state and long distances. We are talking about connecting Seattle and Oregon all the way to Chicago. We would like to discuss what it would look like to satisfy the need of the rider, first and last 50 miles of travel. How do you get to/from a station? There will not be a station in every community across the state. How do we provide the points of connectivity? Its importation to think about the key features of proposed rail system. Thinking of 1969, how do we create a 21st century rail that works for mountains today. Two trains in different directions, two times daily services. Which allows the options and possibly to travel within the state and be home in the same night. Do work and travel for businesses in the same day and get back home. Also, this would be truly weather resistant. Consistent schedule. Improving the speeds. Making sure we have 21st century amenities. We have been asked to get input, if they were to fabricate trains, what should they look like? What do travelers want? How do you connect to those tows that are off the rail line? Some point and time, they could put something into services that would help connect these small towns. Until then, how do we get to those. Broadus to Miles city, Pablo to Ronan. How to connect to out of route towns. Support services at the train stations. Added value to development to create community validity. Examples of basic train facilities. Some communities these are not necessarily required. All of them would be ADA accessible. There is a lot of options for train station facilities. B.1. Flathead Reservation/Ronan
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Where are we right now planning for this series? Prevision of the bipartisan infrastructure was to conduct a nationwide study of restoring discontinued Amtrak routes. 2023 is being conducted as we speak. This study is ongoing right now. It kicks off early this year, July 18 2023 in Boise ID, the federal rail road admin will be meeting and will give out a short list of the routes that would be considered for restoration. North coast Hiawatha is one on the routes, southern MT. current long-distance routes in the United States, they’re thin and there’re not enough in the United States. Denver to Calgery – Alberta Canada has 4 million people. Pioneer route – Denver, Salt Lake City to Oregon. North coast Hiawatha – Chicago to Seattle Today’s meeting is sponsored by MT Healthcare Foundation with grant support. Wanting to find out what transportation does to affect the health and wellbeing of our comminutes. If you live in Terry, MT you must drive 175 miles to get to Billings for healthcare services. Rail would help patients and providers. Economic and social volatilities of the communities – effects all of us Ashley Kent –Local Government Center-MSU Extension– facilitator for the conversation Participant Introductions: Trish Hallow – Indigenous network/tribe member/advocate for women Liz Dempsy – community member, works for the paper Dan Bucks – chair for BSPRA, heath care foundation assistant with this project- rode passenger rail as a kid and loved it, tribes used it in the past, very interested Amanda Casey – Senator Tester’s office-she has been working on the active report and is here to learn more Diane – representee for Mineral County, loved train travel Winston Taylor - Steve Daines representative for Lake County, would like to take a train sometime Jim – tribal council, very interested over the years in train travel. 1968 took a train to Los Angles and it was a cultural shock. It’s a safe and comfortable experience. Would like to see that here. Questions/Comments: Imagine we have reliable train services that are close to your home, affordable, reliable, and runs twice daily - 200 miles of travel and be home in the same day – connecting service to get you to the station. Where would the pick up and drop off be? Where would the station or depot be? Yet to be determined – Paradise had a station, would it make sense to put it back here? Hiawatha used to go through Butte, does it make sense to reactivate that line or travel through Helena? Both interstate and long (out of state) distance. 750 miles = long. • The establishment of a southern rail would give opportunity of another rail down the road. • Establishing the longer rail would lay the foundation for smaller ones in the future. • One car commuter – not a whole train – EMU could be used on a small track in the future – need to establish the infrastructure. • We can’t compare long distance routes to an airplane route – ‘empire builder’ Seattle to Portland – 90% of the passengers are getting on and off and intermittent points. A long-distance line can be used in different ways. It should be viewed as local/long distance services. This is what makes a train a magical service compared to other forms of transportation, also especially because it runs in the wintertime. • Continuous Wi-Fi so you can be productive while traveling. Commute time goes to the train.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE If passenger rail was affordable and accessible in MT, 1)Would you use it, why/why not? 2)Why would you choose this over other forms of transportation? • Afraid of flying and hates driving – this is the safety form of travel • Kids – overwhelming – kids don’t travel the best – safety and convenient • More comfortable than a car – safer • Onboarding process for train services – for planes its TSA –When you’re in a train station, you really only need to be there 15 min before the train arrives, you take your bags to the cart you’re assigned to and take your seat. It is a small fraction of time compared to an airport. Easier with young kids. Amtrak staff, from experience, has always been high quality and they’ve made the experience very good. • A current trip planed: train from Boston back $800 for roomette for two people – one way to fly is $800 • Compared to gas prices, has anyone put together affordability? • Fuel efficiency – traveling by car you have to take into account the maintenance/ lodging/ weather/energy level • The quality of travel is much better than car travel. Total cost would be much lower compared to travel by car. • Shared memory about taking the train along to coast and watching the sunset while playing cribbage with an old man he just met – great memory • Great opportunity for students to be home for the holidays • Elderly – emotional/physical/family/safety/comfort How would passenger rail benefit you as an individual and as a community? • Making it economically competitive with the airline • Travel for work – and you’re able to work – not able to really utilize Wi-Fi on a train • Enhance quality of life – we all travel on a daily • Heath access • Education opportunities • Older gentleman talks about driving becoming a challenge for him • Tourism access to our amenities – such as a ski resort, also maybe accommodations for bikes • As a senior citizen, drives to the airport harder, so this would be helpful. • Commute from trains – taxi/uber/bus/rental car/public transport – demand builds service Montana Healthcare Foundation is why we’re here today, with their help, we are taking this information back in a report that will be delivered the Federal Railroad Administration. • Colorado has a beautifully restored station - Economic ability for the community • Economic hub for small communities • A lot of existing rail all around here • Open up a winter tourist season – ski – seasonal employees • 500 miles of mountain scenery - twice as much than any other rail line – access to Yellowstone and other major attractions – tourism boom • Twice daily routes • Local economical development – balanced tourism – sustainable customer base right in our communities • Sports – party trains – fun/safe • In school – travel a lot of sports especially in rural areas
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Facilitators discussing sending a survey for input later. Arlando Teller – Secretary of Transportation with tribal affairs from DOT, in WA, planned to do a presentation but wasn’t able to get that set up today, they will forward video on – he appreciates the work going on here Introductions: (New people who joined after the lunch break) • Patrick Matt Jr. – Project director for grant program for tribes – families first project, 5 yrs in, gather resources from collaborators for families and children. Here to learn more and also here for food • Brian Shut – been here his whole life, doesn’t know much about it, knows its important Questions/Comments How would passenger rail advance health outcome? Short and long term • A lot of services are not local, especially for the elderly – increase access and more comfortable • ADA accessible for people with wheel chairs • Give more providers/traveling nurses access to travel to other healthcare facilities • VA veterans – losing 2 days almost to get to facilities – able to work/relax/affordable – sometimes the government pays for their milage, this would save taxpayers money. Would VA drivers be able to get them to the stations? • A lot of nursing homes closed in the past couple years – this would help transport those elderly in need • Safer for passengers/driving/time efficient/economically fuel/coffee or food stops/dependable • 2016 US spent over a trillion for healthcare • Psychological or mental health caregivers – lots of stress on top of there busy lives, this would be very helpful • Social interaction/isolation – sense of relief for those who live alone and family isn’t living close by • Will create jobs and also be beneficial for those in there current job • MT is behind others – lets get with the times • Environmentally friendly • Bang for your buck – tons of cars and planes being replaced by trains How many people have access to public transportation that they can use today? • CSKT transit – call for pick up and it will take you anywhere locally. 24/48 hr notice you can get to appointments in North or South Kalispell or Missoula. Affordable. Accommodate for special needs or wheelchairs • Grant funding for transit so some fear it would be taken away • Bus drivers from mineral county • Lake County has transportation program – bus or van – local senior citizen programs could transport as well – lake county area counsel rock aging? • Rez runner is a good form of transportation and is a good money maker • Mineral county doesn’t have Uber or Lyft – possibility one lady who might be doing it Van/bus Flathead/Missoula area • If there was a consistent schedule then you wouldn’t have to call in before hand • CSKT transit bus stops set up • Drivers have to wait during the appointments – can be inconvenient
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Why would you choose passenger rail over transit for social, work, youth sporting event – what is the draw to the rail? • Lack of divers for transports • You can fit more grandkids on a rail car then in a road car and they can run around • Parents miss out on kids sporting events due to long drives, especially in the winter • Extra family time on the train, extending trips • Travel for work in the winter • Social access on weekends – most transit is scheduled things, not leisure • Save gas and not have to deal with a charter bus – maybe put students on a bus • In the past, they would take an athlete bus and pep bus – no one goes anymore so they’re no fans attending games What benefit would that bring you community to have that approved travel for an event? • Economic – more attendance • Community building What kind of local transportation would be necessary and what would be reasonable for that first and last mile? • Uber or Lyft would be best – depends on the community or jobs available • Transit for just rail access • Free parking area near a train stop • Sidewalks – bike and walk ability systems What amenities would be attractive on the train and at the station? • Food/free good Wi-Fi/entertainment/social/customer services/audio announcements/charging ports • Guiding tours – historical information • Important to be able to hear and read audio announcements in case its loud and you can’t hear what’s going on, especially in an emergency • Payphones – funny but serious ask • Have historical or nature facts on the walls of cars for people to learn – or info about nature hikes or things in the area like museums What destination would be helpful to connect the rail to? Would you use this train for in state or out of state travel? Say it cost the same or less than flight, where would you like to go? • Missoula or Sandpoint, Billings, Bozeman, Great falls, eastern MT Would you find value if it was connected south or west? • Yes, more west for medical needs, Seattle • Denver, Albuquerque, phoenix • Educational options – ability for students to come home for holidays
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE What did we miss, what should we be thinking about that we are not? • Banff, Lake Tahoe, Vegas • Community pride – trains are cool • Economic impact – building it, maintaining it, advertising it • MT fair • Maintenance staff is different for freight than passenger – this requires knowledge • Interconnections between rail and efforts to direct and control the type of development that we have • Highway 93 issues – rail was a big topic of discussion – transportation rather than just highway issue. 25-30 years ago, lot of interest in revitalizing rail, it can be more conducive to develop walkable communities instead of having car centric patterns of development. • Rail gives the option of taking away the dependency upon motor vehicles • Anticipating and mitigating the potentially negative effects. Needs to be paired with controls on development • A lot of flexible design of making rail – Siemens Corporation of Germany, developed rail buses that make use of the rails, reducing car traffic and being a comfortable form of transportation • Galloping Goose – putt-putt engines that traveled between places for small towns
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Forsyth Meeting Introduction: Jess Peterson, Western Skies/BSPRA Introduction of people attending virtually: • Laura and Phill Fox from Treasure County • Randy Grauberger – worked with Dave Strohmaier a few weeks ago • Veronica – retired from Department of Defense and worked overseas. Now she can’t drive, so this is her way to travel to see family. Would like to enjoy the state without driving herself. • Allan White – business agent for Operators Union in Billings, interested in this for coal mine workers • Samantha – lives in Forsyth • Doug Introduction of people attending in-person: • Pam Ash – Independent Press in Forsyth • Rebecca Zamis – was in Europe for years and loved the trains there • Bob Watts - Transportation Center coordinator • Brian – jail supervisor from the Sheriff’s office • Jenni Cherry– Rosebud County • Jennifer Anderson – MSU County Extension- Rosebud County • Colette Payer, Rosebud Healthcare • Mike Parsons – moved here from western MT, looking for better transportation across state • Scott Hein – Rosebud County Commissioner, been here for his whole live • Bob Lee – Rosebud County Commissioner, born and raised here • Allison Corbyn - Western Skies, lives in Billings Questions/Comments: Taxes are federal funds – they spend money on the Coast so why can’t they spend money here Rail improvements in Malta – links to grants, infrastructure, rail improvement, BNSF, Amtrak, its towns and communities Need for connectivity is very real – airport yes but Montana’s love to drive Roads aren’t great, transportation is a big deal for all walks of life Everyone has a story of getting on a train in the past and we want to bring that back – how? Amtrak a few years ago had an idea in a presentation for the Treasure state and beyond. We have the interstate but the opportunity to connect in different forms of transportation, but this is very feasible We have the empire builder brings in millions of dollars Money into rail ‘news flash’ your putting money into a lot of federal projects. This is a link to federal dollars and doesn’t take away from other federal projects B.2. Forsyth
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Hi-line is known around the nation and world They name came from years ago North Coast Hiawatha – an old remnant. We need to come up with a good name, we could do a raffle for example the Treasure Express or Yellowstone Express Background/Introductory Information: The rail authority of big sky is a full transportation governmental body, Commissioner Lee sits on for Rosebud County is the most active in the state. If there is an opportunity for Rosebud or Forsyth to be at the table, we will be on board. 20 current counties, Treasure on board. Yellowstone County thinks ‘if we join, we are endorsing.’ No, we are having conversations about what is coming down the track to your community. You know when you see bulldozers coming down the road what that means. We’ve seen it with Colstrip agriculture. There is a lot of value in rail. You be a part of your communities when they’re on the menu. A lot of value in rail. 44 million dollars coming into MT for economic interest. Benefits from our communities, those numbers are helpful. Predicting a ridership 426,000 people creating startups, jobs, get us into Chicago, Seattle. Alicia and Commissioner just said it was challenging to get to Helena. You can have an opportunity to watch shows on Netflix you miss while driving. You can rest or nap. Airport chairs are small and uncomfortable when your flight gets cancelled. Reliable and on time train where you can walk around and sleep throughout the night. You plan accordingly for when the train will be in your area – 2 times daily. Weather resilient. The best rail in the state – Bismarck clean to the other side of Billings. You guys have done such a great job with the freight rail. There is always a part of the highway that needs fixed or has a pothole. That’s the Commissioners, feds, government’s fault. With the rails, you already have the freight. Connectivity. Get on the train and have reliable Wi-Fi – might be the best connection for some people. State of the art Wi-Fi connectivity. May get passenger rail before we get high speed internet in some of these areas – rural broadband. Connective services with off road towns, Lame Deer could come to Forsyth to connect to the track. Where is the station going to be? Well, that’s for you to figure out. Build you hub, it could be in Miles City, whatever works for you. What is the station going to look like? Pretty basic, smart phone tech, grab ticket, scan it, get on train. Coordinating station across the state. If you have a great base, they might improve that overnight. Here in Montana, we find something that is works and is function and move on with it. It doesn’t have to be over the top East coast representing MT, was a great opportunity. This fall, we would investigate these routes. North south lines – east to west routes. We’re syncing up with pacific northwest. Portland, Salt Lake, that region. Very much real when you look at east west. The drop outside of Butte into Idaho would put you into Denver, Salt Lake. We don’t know what the future looks like, that’s why we’re having these conversations. Station stops, average speed – reality 47 mph consistent. We’ve drove 35 on black ice for too long.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Chicago to Seattle, opportunity to break into chunks. Can this be done? Is this possible? Have you seen your communities in action? Rural, MT communities come together like nobody else – fires, walk stations needed. We want to come up with every good and major idea and put it into the study. This grant was put together by the Montana Healthcare Foundation. The White House folks at FRA impressed with what we’ve done so far. We know what we’re doing. Why this matters to you?’ We need to make that defense to have this system in place. Elevate and engage and let our delegation and everyone know, then in November, Amtrak is directed by the government. Bundle all our info up. You can weigh in on a report that will go into WA – historic impact – no pressure. Introduction of facilitator Dan Clark, MSU Extension Listening session to hear from the citizens and community members. Funded by the Montana Montana Healthcare Foundation. How will this affect our community? There will be an opportunity for us to share what we’re hearing from the community. Give us a few years to put some info together to restore these lines from the communities. Ability to access family, healthcare, working opportunities. Interested to hear things we haven’t thought about. How this will be different then what has been presented before? On the agenda you will see at the bottom – list of assumptions. We don’t know all the answers yet – we are trying to frame that – need to get federal funding. Twice a day in both directions. For someone who travels the state, this would be perfect, and I could get some much more done. Trains can be reliable through all-weather conditions. Consistent schedule. Plenty of Wi-Fi. Affordable. Backside of agenda is questions. We’re doing this in 6 locations. Example: Lame Deer – we have a lot of heath challenges; this would be very helpful for us. Could we have a pod on the train to help those who are dealing with heath challenges? The train pods need to be ordered, created, and built - ability to describe what we need if we have the access. What would we like to have, what resources? Why not design it and create it now? Questions/comments If passenger rail was affordable and going through southern MT, would you use it and why. and if not, why? • The weather. If I had a meeting in Helena and they forecasted a foot of snow, I could use the rail rather than fighting the roads. • Tourism, bring people to our area • How could we capitalize on that model? How do we capture tourism dollars? • Incredible history here, dinosaurs, this would be a unique thing to capture • Southeastern MT struggles with getting access to our area • Travel within the state – access to outside the state • The data and info they have from tourism • If not a destination, it’s a pass through • Economic aspect = tourism – bring from the outside in • Montana is full – lets push them out not bring them in • Viable reliable transportation – a full minivan of kids isn’t a good experience, where they can run around play and learn while you travel • Active digs for dinosaurs – live digs - this is unique • Ekalaka is doing great to promote themselves
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE • Help out other areas who can’t make the trip – create a network to help with time frames for medical needs – would add a good dimension • What about someone who can’t sit – how do you accommodate that? Chicago to Seattle route – existing rail line – it could come around to Helena to Butte. Station location and time frame is all going to have to be worked out. We don’t want to travel that late – well you already do this for flights. How would this benefit your community for healthcare? • Providing easier access for people to stay in their communities. Maybe you transport them to the station and then they can get on the train to go to the hospital. This would help create a ripple effect older generations to stay in their communities • It would also bring healthcare providers to us. Tela-med is great but you lose something when your not seeing the patient in person • Could improve quality of access to the community Economic opportunities that would be enhanced? • Some people live in small communities but work in larger cities like Billings • Educational opportunities – Miles City, Carroll College, Missoula etc. • Students going home on the weekends or going back to work on a ranch • 6 week course out of state – give rural students access to further education • Potential vs barriers – cultural barriers. We are used to driving. Cultural and independence. How would we work to change that way of thinking, the mindset? Maybe we do a ‘free ride’ so people can try it out. Hop on the train and catch a party in Bozeman • 50+ this is something that has neve been apart of our life. We drive for sports and have done this all our life Those who were around back then, did you use it? • We drove, but it gave me an opportunity • Law enforcement - would help for training, a lot of people are stranded here – transits or people in an accident and car is broke down. Anyone stranded would have access to services we don’t currently have • Tractor breaks down – maybe incorporate freight component • Tons of people put on Facebook ‘anyone going to Billings?’ • Train can bring people in for small town events • Party all the way to a game as a group • Less wear and tear on the interstate • To travel for holidays and see family – if students get one day off for Thanksgiving it would give them time to get home in bad weather without stress • Going to big cities for sport events for people who are uncomfortable driving in big cities • No stress – more access for fans • Sleeper/bar/food cars • Being tall in high school is awesome but later in life it isn’t fun. Long legs are uncomfortable for travel. A train would be perfect and have lots of space for taller people BNSF is very involved – they would get an order from Amtrak – the stations of yesteryear will bring in a lot of stops or new shops – won’t be huge stations like in the past. Build it and they will come – the
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE dynamic will change with it. Corporate vs government: Corporate – follow the dollar; Government – follow the bill. We worked to get this into Congress – this is still a lot of work. BNSF has the functionality. Feeder system. First mile, last mile. Where are the stations going to be? How do places without stations get there? • Route the busses/Uber/Lyft/taxies – streamline to get you to hospitals/clinics/schools • Transport here in town – not local – never have enough people to help community right now What are ideas for better access to public transportation? Amtrak would help with infrastructure – thinking beyond the train – broader vision How do we get people to stations? • People get driven from Hysham right now to Forsyth all the time to do things besides medical • People who want to sleep instead of party • Would be great for traffic control – consistent schedule would be nice • Forsyth doesn’t have a bus system in town right now, no interest • Medical needs would be priority #1 • Ripple effect – establish and then add on How do we enhance quality of life or enhance economic opportunities or advance healthcare or maintain communities? • Some specialists come into Billings from WA and are there for one day like a Tuesday and that would be hard for anyone to make work so this would be beneficial for something like this • Forsyth transportation right now $20 Billings, $15 Miles City, $5 in town – some can’t pay and some pay more than necessary Review of the tentative map: Shows very little going north and south – how do we connect MN to Chicago, Seattle to Spokane, Phoenix to Salt Lake or El Paso – maybe this would change in time What is a priority for access locations? Billings to Denver would be a big one – for cheaper flights – gas makes this hard. Travel for students in Denver area. Access to SLC. Developing more east west. Removing a barrier for education – campus parking is outrageous, and most students use their cars during school. Pioneer to Salt Lake City and Denver – slow march, start to see ripple effect and economic value. BSPR starts the conversation • People traveling for loved ones in out of state medical facilities – this would help them a lot This is built and get going, there is going to be a lot of people who make money, you build it they’ll come, someone will show up with money and make it work. • Great for fairs or community events even for a stopping point • Economic driver would be tourism • Electronic vehicle charging stations – while they wait they need accommodations • In Europe they stop in tiny towns for a short moment – could we have stop in Miles City and Forsyth? Glendive and Billings would be more realistic – this might change with time. Livingston, Bozeman, perhaps something between
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE • Carbon impact? Trains vs Cars? • Freight train is equivalent to 69 semi-trucks – supposed to be more efficient. More opportunities with FRA to develop quiet zones in the communities. If they go through farm access roads and in the night, they blow the horn. People aren’t going to like that. 20 different crossings right now from here to Hysham. • Last fall, summit, train crossing came up, top senior folks were there, the horns are something that everyone can discuss • Sugar beat farmers on Highway 10 – those rail road crossings have trains that blow their horns. They should fix their rules on horn blowing for those. The FRA determines horn blowing rules, so they have to do it • Montgomery got hit and they fixed that crossing in Rosebud and they were paid multimillions. You can’t fix stupid • Lame deer to Miles City, 1 hour 32 min, Lame Deer to Billings 1 hour 36 min – if a train stop is not in this area it would not be a benefit. • Custer County is involved • The freight trains are slow and in need of help, how is a passenger train going to effect the traffic for the agricultural trains that are necessary? A lot of the tracks need to be updated. Passenger to freight, rail is different • How are the passenger trains stacked, 4 people including workers? • Train station, self service • Staffing, how would that work? Just like an airport and flight crews • Maintenance, BNSF takes care of tracks, would that take more? Company in MN takes care of that right now – to be determined • School enrollment in these communities are not consistent. Start out with classes of 30 and end the year with 17. Low on teachers and then have to many and have to let them go. It’s chaos • Summer of 73 freshman class was 45 then to 85 students – huge boom • Potential for workers is a benefit – now we need more houses We’re in the dance now, hope to start dating soon, and then maybe a commitment in the end This was all made possible by the Montana Healthcare Foundation
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Glendive Notes There were technical difficules with the Glendive recording and, as a result, it did not record and could not be transcribed. Notes are the combinaon of flip-chart sheets and facilitator summaries/notes from the meeng. 1. Weather and Road a. 2. a. in d. 3. a. i. ii. ir . 4. a. events atrain. B.3. Glendive
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Glendive Notes 5. a. their - 6. a. the trai General Comments made: – -. L--. -. – Said h. Katel– .
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Glendive Notes – -. – – trains.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Lame Deer Meeting (hard to hear) Facilitator Introductions: Jess Peterson Dan Clark, based out of Bozeman, works at the University Jason Stuart, Glendive Maggie Tupper BSPRA Introduction (Video) Restoration of passenger rail in southern Montana; Restoration of Hiawatha route, north of Lame Deer; Opportunity to run buses or travel services to get down here; Mission and goal is to restore, improve and expand rail to benefit all communities; rural, tribal, urban. Rural towns must travel a lot for everything. Veteran VA facility is in Fort Benton. This meeting is being done through a grant through the Montana Healthcare Foundation. Long distance study – report has to show which discontinued passenger rails should be restored. FRA needs to see the reasons across Monta – how everyone would benefit from this service. Application for the State put forward will have this info. How will BSPR influence, effect, or benefit communities, especially tribal? • Jason showed a presentation for what is being proposed for the BSPR restoration and how this help affects or impact your community here. Erosion of passenger rail over time 1962-1963. 150 years ago, the railroad did not benefit your people. Now, this will benefit al tribes along this route and this part of the country. It should not be a detriment like it was in the past. What happen in 1962 – what brought the collapse? 1979 med train died; 1960 interstate highway was getting completed. Americans, as a people, have always been fascinated with what’s new. 1962 jets and interstates were the future, railroads were the past. 1970 Congress saw rail was close to vanishing and created Amtrak BSPT. Amtrak is like the post office, it is a private federal governmental company. 1993 erosion map is bare. 1970 we lost a route in 1979, pure politics nothing else. The Connect us map. We don’t like this map – should be called the ‘disconnect map.’ People live in the spots that no rail is – the donut hole. We are still among the lowest populations. More people are now moving into our state and we need to be connected. BSPRA Nov 2021 was created. BSPRA – government - A lot of people think we are nonprofit, not true. 1993 counties were given the ability to create a rail authority with the purpose of advocating for passenger or freight rail. This has really been used for 20 years. Commissioner Strohmaier has been into this for 43 years and it’s been hard. 12 counties, Dawson county was the first. 20 counties strong now and 3 tribal nations, Northern Cheyenne, Crow and Flathead – BSRA members. Norma is on the board and we’re glad to have her. Tribes need to be involved – makes this argument stronger. Why would MT need to revitalize the rail system? Rail corridors generate incredible economic value, these trains drive business/jobs/tourism/transportation/real estate. We should be able to take a train to Yellowstone National Park – for 100 years that’s how it was. High speed trains are being used – Americans are starting to realize that we fell behind. English invented it, United States perfected it. Got into change and left it behind. Research note study done – 30,000 ft level economic analysis done to show what research was done on the northwest Hiawatha Route. We want to change the name. B.4. Northern Cheyenne Reservation/Lame Deer
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Restarting the route, this is year 1. Annual economic returns in the United State $271 million, in MT $44.6 million. Annual average ridership of 426 thousand per year – excellent numbers – start up. Full maturity economic value $595 million per year, MT $101 million per year. Empire builder 450ish thousand per year for riders – 40+ years, full maturity. Economic lifeline for the hi-line. Covid shut the train down and people were not happy Economically trains are drivers, they’re engines, excellent for local economies. Social – improving the quality of life for tribes and everyone in between. Winter 5 months out of the year Transportation is essential for everyone. BPR would be a great way to travel for everyone, instead of driving in the snow or avoiding animals. Train rides that have Wi-Fi, food, walking space, etc are relaxing. Rail stations are hubs for communities, they drive business – beating heart, social aspect. Should be a station in Forsyth – Amtrak would partner with shuttle or something to be able to get your people there/ Key features: once a day in the middle of the night, nice but not attractive. Empire builder should have trains running twice a day. Reliability for freight and passenger. Wi-Fi. New train sets. Connecting services for through towns. Modern stations – fix old ones like Glendive needs restored and modernized. Platform ADA accessible. Current routes that exist, can count them on one hand. Future map, green lines to show restore options, blue show existing Amtrak. North Coast Hiawatha – 241 miles Chicago to Seattle – empire track to Fargo – reconnect to Sandpoint ID; 48 hrs – 2 days – 47 mph. Low speed but should increase with upgrades to the track and infrastructure. We can do this, we have strong support with surrounding states, lots of interest in region. Questions/Comments: Would this rail line go on an existing line, or will it have to be built? • Existing track – we can’t build a highspeed rail track, maybe someday. A lot of upgrades need to be done to meet the requirements. 43-year-old track. 2009 study by Amtrak, estimated a billion dollar upgrade. New sidings, longer sidings to accommodate freight trains, upgrades track, systems, signaling, lots of infrastructure upgrades to existing tracks. We visualize a sitting train cart – 1970-1971 trains had sleep carts and food options. If people go to Seattle for medical, could you transport them cheaper and comfortably, what are the options? • Modern Amtrak has coach seats, bigger and nicer than a plane. They do have rooms with bunk beds, dining cars, dome cars with glass bubble top. Medical need car doesn’t exist, great idea. We could have them create that. Don’t know of any cars to date that have this. • Cut down on driving, travel as a family, help the planet, this is a good idea. • It could bring employees from anywhere on the route, tribal citizens could work out of town, and it would also bring jobs for your people. This would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One freight train takes the amount of 68 trucks.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE We feel that we have strong support in the region and county, but it has to be done at Congress. • Tribal – we will talk to our Council to make sure they know this is important to us. • Montana is unique and historical. We want to keep it that way. There is a big push by lobbyist who are not native to Montana. they’re trying to give our state away to those people. Even Miles City has history. We need to be able to make sure that the trains don’t come through too fast, so people don’t just look out their window at us, they actually have time to stop and visit the historical places. Build hotels and build businesses. The transit system that is in place isn’t well supported. I want to see this train slow down so people can see us, as a native, this is important. Faster trains would not benefit Montana when we leave the reservation and go to other communities, we create business for others. Top speed trains go 85+ which is interstate speeds. The dome would let people see everything. These trains will be going slow for sure. Tourism – MT rail authority has talked about Billings to Denver to Salt Lake to Denver – heart of the west tour, do a circle tour through MT, ID, CO, coordinate a tour. • Great idea We would like to partner with Canada, go from TX to Canada. The only N to S train is the coast. Most people in the north want to go down south but don’t have a ability. • A tour around is a good idea. Would be awesome to stop at the Little Bighorn Battlefield, Yellowstone National Park, Salt Lake Desert – this would drive tourism. Other parts of the world are used to using trains. Yellowstone is known for busloads of foreign visitors – that is what they’re used to. Amtrak would partner to connect with fleet service for people to reach the train – Circle, Richie, Lambert, Baker – this would be great for them. Are there any other places looking to do this besides us? Could we partner with them? • There are other rail organizations that are pushing but no one is pushing as much as us. Boise is trying to get the Pioneer Route – Denver, Salt Lake, Boise, to Seattle – we are partnering with them. It’s not a fight we support each other. We are the leaders in the country trying to push long distance passenger train restoration. Transport people from Lame Deer to Colstrip instead of Forsyth. Colstrip has a track, utilize it. Why wouldn’t you do that? • Anywhere that has a track, could be an option. But the reason we are not looking to do this route specifically is because of the legislature. Some federal funding but the state has to match this. So no, a train to Colstrip wouldn’t work – Paradise Valley to Gates of the Mountains. To restore this track the state of MT has to do it. Multibillion ask by the state. Maybe after we’re established, some seat changes, this could move forward towards that.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE If Chicago to Seattle route was restored, how might this effect your community’s access to help, health, or economics? • Our medical numbers are higher for things we’ve never had to deal with. Mayo Clinic is where most people are being sent. The Council sees a lot of transport requests so they can be with family. The route in Forsyth would be timely and effective for our people. Right now, driving is the option, and a lot of people don’t have a vehicle. Indian Health Services would be able to benefit from this. • Families would choose a train because its comfortable. Sometimes you can only take one family member on an airplane for medical. IHS funds one member for a patient – this is rare – out of state medical services • Big picture, would be nice for employees to travel or work opportunities • Education opportunity – MSU, UofM, Dawson Community College – in this route. • Family support • Tribal council sees that not all kids have access or want to attend just those schools. This would be an opportunity for kids to have a chance to go to a different school • Reliable family transportation Is this for everyone? Yes for everyone, offers lower income people another form of transportation • The price needs to be reasonable for both leisure and medical people – if it’s too high, the time wouldn’t make sense to choose over flights Right now Amtrak is cheaper than plane tickets. What keeps their prices down, it’s a quasi-government agency, tax payer funded. We will keep an eye on this and make sure it can stay low for people to utilize the service • 2018 had an experience on Amtrak – she chose this because of the convenience but still had to drive to get there. Last year her nephew and her went to NY, drove to Havre, 270+ miles, 7 hour drive. Saw a Yankees game, something that was on his bucket list. Was a nice experience and option. People on the reservation would love it and utilize it • Its hard to travel on a plane with family, especially small kids • Everything looks the same from a plane. You can see America different than you can from a plane or driving a car – train is higher up an you can take in the scenery • We are a third world country here and we want this to come to Lame Deer for our people Years ago, it wasn’t a benefit for Cheyenne, that wont be the case if we can get this done for you guys • Norma is on the board and is the tribal representative • Tribal tourism would be benefit all tribal land – buy our merchandise • Sometimes we have a hard time getting fallen veterans here, this would be a way to bring them home from overseas to help them out and not be sure a pricy burden for families • Libraries are in a community to travel with your imagination – now we can experience the world and not have to live through books • Rewards program would be great as well
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Paradise Meeting • MT Healthcare Foundation is the reason we are able to have this meeting today. National network • Amtrak- Map shows NW region with gaping holes, that is where people live • 1979 – northern pacific ran north coast limited – after 43 years wanted to change it up MT statue – allows penalties for regional rail authorities • 2020 - 12 counties came together to establish first rail authority on MT • First board meeting in Jan 2021 – up to 20 countries in 2023 o Blue - Empire builder line, highline o Orange – east/west coast, north Hiawatha trail o Lost of routes can be restored – need to decide what the best options are o South routes – Salt Lake City and Butte, Denver and Billings – big options on the table Why is rail something to consider? • Economic driver for communities, transit orientated development • Nation network, long distance passenger rail route – smaller routes in MT can be restored later • All weather mode of transportation • Passenger = people • Freight = goods/product • Travel between office/business locations and can work while he travels • Provides opportunities for different modes of transportation • Need to figure out how to and from get transport to rail stations • Restore but 21st century style • Twice daily services – can go to and from one destination in a full day • How to connect to towns that are not on the route • Train station facilities – restore and renew vacant stations • Long distance route but will eventually be used for small towns • Denver train station that was restored, lodging, restaurants, shops – heart of community – similar principals to bring here to MT • Long Distance Study – background of why were here and what we’re doing. Northwest Hiawatha route and pioneer route • We’re a governmental agency, not non-profit How is the decisions being made by the federal railroad admin to determine what routes will be restored? • Northwest Hiawatha route and pioneer route link cities and rural areas Does the route advance social and economic regions of rural areas of the united states? • Yes, we satisfy this criteria Does the provide long distance activities for long distance passenger rail system? Absolutely Does the route reflect public engagement and local and regional support of restored passenger rail? That is why we are here tonight. We were asked to provide result from our meetings. July 18th meeting in Idaho – will be releasing a list of small routes that were recommended for restoration B.6. Paradise
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE MT healthcare foundation is the reason we’re here tonight Questions/Comments: • 43 years ago this didn’t work, why would it work now? hard to bring something back after you lost it. Late 1970s it was a different time. Is what happened 43 years ago something we need to establish forever now in the 21st century is a time to rethink what full connected passenger rails look like. • Once the federal payroll admin task over, what is the time frame? July will be announcing the short list. November of this year, by federal law, the FRA must provide a report to congress with the federal recommendations. Between now and then, we are doing things like this to make sure they understand what people want. If the stars a line, and someone in WA hits the start button, this will be a 5 year process. It took 10 years to put someone on the moon in the 1960s so if there’s a will there’s a way. But, there is a backorder for train sets now so that might elongate the time frame. My guess is 3-5 years. 5-7 is more realistic. I want to ride the train, I don’t want to ride it as my funeral train. • Asking if it would be a part of the National network? Yes it has to be, if it was anyone else we wouldn’t be able to do it. Federal law allows Amtrak to run. Not only asking the federal government to restore the tracks but ask also to recommend how Amtrak could be more responsive to local communities, maximizing ridership and coordinating with local communities. Authorities are coming up with ideas, interested to see what those will be. We are working on this too, how can Amtrak be conformed to help small communities to get to bigger cites for services and be more responsive to people. We don’t want to simply replicate and restore you last worst experience on Amtrak, that last week on the empire builder 43 year ago. We proceed to get support from Senator Danes and Tester – his staff helped right the infrastructure. ND and Idaho are also on board. Introductions/why are you here? • Paradise Center, interest in regional • Kayla Castner – work for Paradise, this county was made by rail, we have the history, we can’t live on history, we have to more forward. We all feel that the big sky passenger rail has done an outstanding job and we’re happy that you are here • My grandfather took me in 1984 and he work on the rail. I would like to see it come back to help the community and county • Monty Turner – from Superior, I’m here for independent but also for Dave Strohmaier to help him sign off.. this is our only opportunity to do this and I’m positive we could get this up and running. • Report for the Legend • John Holland – County Commissioner for Sanders County, all for this and would like to join you • Darrin Sorensen – my dad worked for Rain and he was able to travel all across the state in any weather • Great opportunity to build community, we are lacking that, within and outside our communities. We need to look at other options for transit • I would like to be able to ride on this, would like to see it help our communities • Tony Cox – County Commissioner, we were one on the first ones to jump on right away for rural communities. I want to jump on the Milwaukee to see my son
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE • I’m intrigued, this is such a great opportunity. I would like my grandkids to grow up here with rail. This seems simple. I would like to be able to jump on for work or leisure • I live in Plains, grew up around here, I think having the train back would be an amazing thing. 10 years ago I want from white fish to Detroit lakes and back, it was amazing. I think it could be used by everyone • Katherine - County Planner, City Council in Thompson falls. I had a great experience years ago, I was on the train in white fish - 6 mo pregnant with and 4 and 2 year old and it was an adventure, going from train to train and it was a great experience • Harris – Thompson falls, last Council meeting the Council thinks this will be a great addition to the county and we hope we have a stop in Thompson falls • I would like to be able to hope on a train and not have to travel by car • My father worked on rail for years, had a great experience while I was in school • Restoration would help out our community and help people get around easier • Shilo – rural America, if you don’t have a car you can’t get around. I am interested in the schedule • It would be great to see rail again, heard great stories growing up • Jill Hanson – my dad worked at the plant, during that time I rode the Mainstreeter here, I was 11 yrs old and it was marvelous. It was not a good age to travel, but they looked out for me and made sure I found my brother in Seattle before I got off the train. I can remember my freshman year, as often I could we would catch the trains in Paradise for a day or so, it was wonderful. When the rail went away, it cut down on the possibility for me to see placed. When I married, found out my father-in-law knew a machinist at the roundhouse in Missoula, they had a mini ranch on this side of the hill, that was his way to get to work. His young son was going to school in Carter. They were unable to get groceries, so my father-in-law would meet them to get groceries. SO many stories that people have that it was important to have this for use for personal or business. It’s something, if I can help in anyway by providing history, I would like to help. This is very important. • 6 years old first experience in Paradise, went to Kansas and back. I would love to see this reported. • Grew up here, I don’t foresee it running like it did when I was a kid. this would be great • I work with the commissioners every day, I’m also apart of big sky passenger rail. A lot of my experience from my past life, I worked a lot and was managing some of that, so I know how they operate. When Dave approved Carrol Broker, she reached out to us, Jerry McDonald, who is the director for Sanders County, work very closely with this because we’re strong proponents of this. I know without a doubt, this can happen, it will happen. Concerns about the operations and track, Senator is a strong advocate, we have very strong partners and feel strongly about this. • Kim Moser, Thompson falls – recreation and outreach coordinator for sanders county – I agree with everyone else how I would like to see this for personal, community, tourism, economy, public health, and transit. • Max Hall - from Plains, board member - passion to work with the group who puts all the road parts together and the displays we have over there • Road 8 years ago to Missoula when she had a broken arm, good experience • 3rd generation and railroad is something that would benefit so many people in so many different ways. Thank you so much for what you’re doing, and I would like to help out • Dad died last fall, WWII vet, 1942 to catch a train to Butte, ‘you’re late!’ ‘no the train was late.’ Let’s make sure will be on time!
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Dave/Ashely Discussion • What does the freight rail road think about this? BNSF rail, Amtrak, MTDOT – all at the table and the same page with us • I can’t think of a more diverse array of counties, ideological, political, urban, east, west. When is the last time that Missoula county has worked with Wibaux county? Never! • Passenger rail is a touchstone for us right now. • Back of agenda has questions Dan Bucks – volunteer chair fundraising committee for the authority – importance of what you’ve already done with stories and ideas that you’ve all shared, important ideas. We’re about to go into the next session where you’re going to lead us through a bunch a questions and the answers are more important because of this. When we started working on these meetings a few months ago, we know the criteria because we helped write it. Who else is doing these public engagement meetings like we’re doing? Nobody else has done this. This raises the bar folks. This is the first rail line that is under consideration where local communities where locals will have there voices and words recorded, reported and heard. This will be the first ever report that the federal rail road organization reads about local people and what they think about resorting passenger rail. All answers and thoughts are a big deal and you will make a difference. Mineral Independent - there’s an obvious absence of young people here. Its’ not uncommon. The younger people are not participating in volunteering organizations, economic development. We’re going to be putting answer into this survey that they’re going to have to follow, they’re going to have to pick it up. Why can’t we get them here? They’re not here and were making decision for them. Will they have the same answer that they’re going to give? Only listening to the ones with grey hair. Its no reflection on anything, I’m just disappointed that younger people aren’t involved. That’s all I wanted to say. They don’t have fond memories so they might go ‘We don’t want this or why do we need this’. 1:29:14 – 1:37:30 … Zoom meeting got hacked.. 1:54:00 meeting is back on • #5 is important. if you don’t have access to get to the train – we need all the ideas you have • Northwest Hiawatha or East West from Seattle to Chicago routes • We want your view to see if there might be something we’ve overlooked
Appendix C. Meeting Notices/Invitations
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Appendix D. Meeting Participants
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Name City email phone #Amanda Casey HelenaLiz Dempsey PolsonBrenda RicheyCheryl Jarvis PolsonAric Cooksley RonanWinston Taylor KallispellJim Maltare ArleeClaire Charlo PolsonElijah Camel PabloJaBleau Arlee ArleePatrick Mott Jr. PabloJoan Mathers Plains Walt Pickering ParadiseKarvel Pickering ParadiseCliff Stiplam ParadiseJudy Stephens ParadiseDarrell J SerensonCarl Nomsi Plains Jr Holland Plains Berita A. Hanson Plains Colleen Hinks HeraMindy Ferrell Trout CreekMark Sheets Thompson FallsJill Hermes ParadiseKent Newbold ParadiseKayla Mosher Thompson FallsHannah Henzndez HeronKathleen Hubka Plains Chris Allen Plains Douglas Wilks Plains Jackie Colyer Plains Dave Colgen ParadiseMac Hall Plains JoAnne Colyer Plains Monte Turner SuperiorMiriah Kardels Thompson FallsKaren Thorson Plains John Thorson Plains Rich Wallace Thompson FallsMathy Meadow Thompson FallsTom Castles SuperiorColleen Hinds HeronDonna Mauglin Plains Janice Hanson Plains Montana Healthcare Foundation Grant Meeting Attendance
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Anthony B Cox Thompson FallsDayna Dickerson ParadiseLaura McMlendou Plains Jay Person ParadiseTom Mexizanecheyenne Lame DeerSerina Red Robe MuddyNorma Gourneau BusbyDanavin Limberht Lame DeerWaylon Souix BirneyJenni Cherry ForsythJennifer Anderson ForsythPamela Ash ForsythBob Watts ForsythColette Payer Forsyth Rebecca Zamis ForsythBob Lee ForsythScott Hein ForsythBrian Egeland ForsythMike Parsons ForsythAmy Parsons ForsythJoe Wilson ForsythGordon Oalkeil Rooservelt CountyGary MacDonald Rooservelt CountyBarry Green Glendive Pat Mischel Glendive Nick Dixson FallonShelly Dixon FallonBrendan Heidner Glendive Beau Kroll Glendive Charlene Reddig Senator Daines OfficeJim GibbsSharon Stewart Peregoy Crow AgencySane Doyle Crow Agency/BozemanVance Crooked Arm Crow AgencyTim McCleary Crow AgencyEmerson Bull Chief Crow AgencyCarla Catolster Crow AgencyTina M. Toyne HardinLuella Brien Crow AgencyPall Green HardinTony Brockman Kalispell
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE ZOOM MEETING PARTICIPANTS/COMMENTS Flathead Reserva�on Comments Made George W Jenista Fort Worth TX -Train styled service that brings passengers & vehicles to example, Dallas-about the same distance as the Auto Train pire an airline, so that those traveling a longer distance are more coimproving their dining service and it would be service as well u with those services, c- had a country bus service, a schedule could be set
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE and allow Anaconda, there is a ski area so it could the government looking at European models ? Jack Curren Northern Cheyenne Paradise Forsyth pulmonary embolisms through my career which to get to an airport to take a migwhere we were headed! Add to that the health
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE passengers! Train travel is to partake in the togetherness the small group Allen White really changes the train as a child Elena Gagliano - Glendive Though the recording was lost I do remember Elena Gagliano Dan Bucks Crow Tribe/Garryowen ’ Z Elana Gagliano Heather Kuklo
Appendix E. Survey Report/Summary
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Passenger Rail AuthorityPublic SurveyReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public Survey1. If passenger rail was a�ordable and accessible through southern Montana, would you use it?97 Responses- 3 EmptyYes No MaybeYes97%94No2%2Maybe1%1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Please describe why or why not78 Responses- 22 EmptyData ResponsesI would utilize passenger rail service as another public transportation option in and out of the community of Glendive, MT. I, like so many others, aregetting older and we have an older population in our city that would rather take a train to their destinations instead of driving which has turned intomore of an exercise of protecting yourself from everyone else who are driving on the highways. Driving long distances is no longer enjoyable.2Opportunity to more easily travel to other communities- and for people in other parts of the state (or out of state) to travel to our community .1I live in Park County and have family in Washington, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. It would be great!1Comfortable, ease of use, fun way to get between towns. Don’t have to worry about a car.1I would use it to commute to and from Helena and Missoula.1It would help absolutely help with transportation to and from work1Traveling to Missoula by myself in a car means a loss of 5+ hours of productive daytime. I'd love to get there more, but don't want to lose 2 days totravel. If I was on a passenger train, I wouldn't mind spending even longer in transit, as long as I had Wi and could work and relax, not worryingabout road conditions in the winter or being a tired driver. In addition, there could be more day-trips to other cities where I could get o the traindowntown and shop or use public transit, then come home.1Billings is the most populated city in Montana and oers the most public services and it is growing. Air transportation is limited by Denver and SaltLake City airport hubs. I would certainly use rail service if it became available and all Montana would benet.1Area has no pub transportation. And local roads are bad in winter.1I commute to Bozeman regularly to work. Even though I live in Whitesh and I'd have to drive south to catch it, I would much prefer a mixed car/railcommute than driving the whole way. I think it would be safer and more pleasurable.1Easier/ cheaper than driving1Back and forth to Missoula, Bozeman and hopefully Spokane1We use the Whitesh station now to travel to Seattle several times a year. If we could hop on in Missoula that would be fantastic.1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyPassenger Rail Service would benet my community in these ways:463 Responses- 2 EmptyMore public transit options18%85More aordable than driving or ying17%77Economic Opportunity (jobs, downtown biz, etc)16%76Reduced road trac15%68Wouldn't need to drive to airport11%52Other entries23%105ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Other benets23 Responses- 77 EmptyData ResponsesProvides mobility for the elderly and the disability community.2Safety traveling in the winter, or not getting overtired going long distances as a solo driver.1You can sit back, be served & enjoy beautiful MT.1Improved safety - driving long distances in MT is hazardous! (deer, night, remoteness, etc.)1I really can't think of a way it wouldn't benet my community.1Would denitely be less isolating! And would allow me to take my grandkids on trips!1It's FUN and would increase our community interaction.1Helps gets workers to other areas1Safer during winter weather events in our northern Rockies climate.1May bring down the cost of ights.1Montana is a huge state that is sparsely populated. Connectivity to regional hubs along the proposed rail service would help with connectivity.1Smaller towns along the route would greatly benet from all the above but even Billings, Bismarck and Bozeman would greatly benet from it'sexistence1provides a focus for ecomic activity -- especially when events are linked to tickets. Billings baseball, State Fair, Metra Concerts, MC Bucking Horse --all of these could be organized as package overnights and marketed beyond the state borders for longer distance visitors who otherwise might notmake the journey. Metra Flag Stop makes sense.1Aorded for those without transportation1t i di t th th d1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyPassenger Rail Service would enhance health outcome in the following ways:480 Responses- 4 EmptyRevitalized rural communities16%75Senior and handicap friendly15%72Fewer Vehicle Deaths14%67No need for personal vehicle to make appointments13%60Greater access to healthcare workers12%56Other entries31%150ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Other health outcomes15 Responses- 85 EmptyData ResponsesSafer for drivers who would otherwise get tired after driving long distances or at night, avoiding hitting animals or car crashes. 1Less time spent driving, especially at night and in the winter. 1Easier for my family to come out and visit! 1All around safer. 1Less pollution! 1I’ve had to miss surgery twice due to road conditions 1Greater opportunities to bring tourist visitors to the region 1I can see a huge bene�t for seniors or handicapped people to be able to live in their smaller community while having personalized access tospecialized care.1I see many health bene�ts for the elderly in Eastern MT who travel to reach the Blgs Clinic system. These distances are daunting for seniors andsuch a waste of resources. A functioning rail connection could be quite empowering if the local Senior Centers educated their visitors on thebene�ts. Posters all around!1All of the above!! 1Improves options for family travel for those who are supporting a loved one in a hospital / recovery facility. 1I do not see Amtrack used in a major way for health care traspertation 1Economical way to visit the state 1Save energy costs in the future 1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyHow would you get to and from a train station?207 Responses- 2 EmptyDrive and park at station Friend/Family Drive and Pick UpWalkBike and lock at station Other, Please describe belowDrive and park at station41%84Friend/Family Drive and Pick Up33%69Walk13%27Bike and lock at station11%22Other, Please describe below2%5ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Other ways of getting to station11 Responses- 89 EmptyData ResponsesI would need to drive 2+ hours to get to a station1Uber1Airport shuttle if possible.1Amtrak1Probably use Taxi or Uber since we don't have local public transit at our doorstep.1public transit in larger towns or those with rural urban transportation systems1If I were staying at a friend's in Billings I could just walk down or take the MET. Train tix that include local connection transport ticket support thistype of seamless usage. Billings is in a unique situation to reconsider their depot placement by developing a multimodal hub around the BillingsGazette building/5th Avenue Corridor. This location links downtown to the medical corridor while providing and W-E sport and entertainment linkfrom the Y to the Metra using active transport. Historic un and underuse rail also provide infrastucture for trolley options along this line. Bringingbuses, trolleys, Amtrak, bike/walk path and bike rental in a little knot at 27th and 5th Ave would provide the perfect background for a downtownmixed-use development that would provide tax �nance to the city for years to come.1CSKT - DHRD partnership1would not use if you have to drive 90 minutes you would keep on driving1Really depends on what services we are talking about.1If shuttle buses bcome availbleWe'd use them.1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyWhat forms of public transportation are currently available in your community?104 Responses- 30 EmptyBus/Shuttle Taxi Other, Please describe below TrainHorse BuggyBus/Shuttle53%55Taxi27%28Other, Please describe below13%14Train4%4Horse Buggy3%3ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Other public transport options29 Responses- 71 EmptyData ResponsesNone6Cape Air, an Essential Air Service provider2none1Only to/from Missoula1Ride sharing1No public transportation other than a mini-bus that goes to Missoula a few days each week.1None of the above in a convenient and reliable way.1own vehicle or friends1Trailways Bus Service. Limited route services1answering for Billings here.1We have NO public transportation!!!!1CSKT - DHRD intermittent van service1only a senior bus1A shuttle on certain days, times, and locations.1North route Amtrack1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyIf public transportation to the rail station were available, would you use it?97 Responses- 3 EmptyYes Maybe NoYes70%68Maybe26%25No4%4ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyWhat would make passenger rail attractive for you to use?459 Responses- 3 EmptyA�ordability20%90Destination Depots17%76Public Restrooms14%65Safe Parking Space12%5724/7 Facility10%48Other entries27%123ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Other attractions12 Responses- 88 EmptyData ResponsesWi - dependable on train. Reserved seating. Mobile app to book tickets.1food car1Online/app-based ticketing1A place to sleep on longer trips for sure.1Possible meal options for people traveling long distances maybe.1"Family cars" that allow for families with young children to travel in an enclosed space. Better for other passengers as well as they don't have to listento screaming babies/children. Also sleeping cabins for anyone booking cross country trips.1comfort of traveling alone1e-bike rentals (!) and night security for downtown locations, tourist information and tour / hotel pickups. Rikshas and E-bike taxis !1Breakfast served on cars; aordable overnight rooms; fresh food prepared on the train; fresh water; smoke free1Really depends on routes and frequency. If there was a train that went to Billings and back once a day I think it would see a TON of use. If peoplehad to stay the night in Billings it would be less.1Linked to other transit stations to travel across the country.1Meet interesting people and don’t feell so threatened by bad. Driving conditions.1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyWhat ammenities would you like to see oered on passenger rail systems?719 Responses- 5 EmptyFree Wi11%82Snacks11%77Charging Ports10%75Observation Car10%69Meals9%68Other entries48%348ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Other Amenities13 Responses- 87 EmptyData ResponsesSeat reservations1I don't think amenities are important - I think regional connectivity and functionality is more important1(I lled out the rst part of this survey earlier but when I tried to go to the next question it submitted instead, so I'm nishing it here.)1Private Railcar Travel Opportunities1Montana is a recreationally oriented state. Every train should have roll-on bike storage and ski storage easily accessible.1I don't think the rail system would have to engage in guided tours or on-board entertainment options. Those can be left to free enterprise to oer.1Perhaps a business both for laptop/cell phone users? digital tickets -- frequent traveler discount1Would take any and all or none of them. Whatever it would take to get it out here.1beauty shop such as on Eurorail1In Peru they brought in local bands which made the train ride so fun.1Do not even consider Vending Machines for a Long Distance train service.1D1A stock car for my horse.1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyWhat destinations would you like to have available via passenger rail?510 Responses- 7 EmptySpokane13%67Greater Seattle Area13%65Denver13%64Portland12%62Salt Lake City10%53Other entries39%199ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Other Destinations29 Responses- 71 EmptyData ResponsesTowns within Montana. As there are few airlines that travel across the state.1Boise, Idaho1Calgary, AB; Kelowna, BC1South Dakota1Canada, maybe Phoenix or LA1If there's an option to go to Canada that would be amazing.1Any additional locations will denitely be utilized by our family.1Any and all!1Whatever destination is available, my family will nd a way to use passenger rail to travel there.1All of abi e. Links to Denver would help ying costs!1Kalispell/Whitesh1Hey Spurline to Great Falls.1Upper Peninsula of Michigan1Des Moines Iowa1Again, State and National Parks would be huge destination options1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyWhat Montana destination would you like to have available?542 Responses- 6 EmptyMissoula14%75Billings14%74Bozeman14%74Helena12%64Yellowstone National Park11%59Other entries36%196ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE What other Montana destinations would you like to have available?30 Responses- 70 EmptyData ResponsesButte5Connect the I-90 Corridor!1Philipsburg1Everywhere!! But since I live in Libby it would be really cool to have an easy connection from Libby to the southern li e :)1Miles City (especially during the summer and for the Bucking Horse Sale), and Butte.1Butte, Miles City.1Glendive1Anywhere in the state will be used by us!1Butte for sure, there are so many sports events the kids need to travel too in Butte.1Eastern Montana communities1Eastern mt lower parts1Ravalli MT or Arlee MT or Ronan MT maybe Dixon MT1Ravalli1A depot in Ravalli, Montana1a point to serve as a hub for the Northern and Southern Montana lines would create a loop of destinations which would serve as a travelReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyAge Range91 Responses- 9 Empty0 5 10 15 20 25 30 3565+56-6536-4546-5526-3520-2529 32%19 21%17 19%11 12%8 9%7 8%ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyHow would you prefer to share your story?28 Responses- 72 EmptyI'll write my story below Phone call with BSPRA representative I'll send an emailI'll write my story below64%18Phone call with BSPRA representative21%6I'll send an email14%4ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE My train story30 Responses- 70 EmptyData ResponsesLiving in Ireland and Europe I used train as my primary means of travel. It was faster than bus and a way for me to work and chat with friends.Having to communicate across Montana in the winter makes the drive’s tedious and dicult rail would allow myself and others to commute forbusiness and not have to drive.1This year in rural Finland I used a regional passenger rail train which was only two cars long. It arrived on time, was nearly full for the mid-daytime, and ran 3x a day. In my mind, THIS is what passenger rail right-sized to rural or low-population density needs can look like; it doesn't haveto be big and ashy; it just has to be functional and t for the demand. I'd love to see passenger rail connectivity like this in MT and in the US.1The rst time I took a train I went from Kalispell to California. It is one of my fondest memories. The ability to travel through my state on reliableand aordable public transportation is the dream. I love our state, but hate driving. The ability to get across the state while enjoying the scenicviews or read a book would be beyond amazing.1Love train travel, would welcome it in Montana. 1Every time I've ever used train to travel I've enjoyed it and found it convenient. Would love to have this option in Montana! 1I spent a month in Europe with my 2 year old daughter in 2019, train was BY FAR, the easiest way to travel!! Easier, safer, more aordable,literally EVERYTHING was better!1Last time I traveled to St. Louis with the family we took the train from St. Louis to Chicago to visit my uncle, and my wife and I kept saying howmuch we wish we'd been able to travel like that the entire trip instead of having to y. It was easier, more aordable, and the kids were muchmore manageable. Would travel by train everywhere if we had the option.1Took my daughter to west coast to visit friends on rst run after vivid. Loved it. I traveled with children when they were young several times.Had to drive 5 hours to get to train station but loved the trips. So easy for single parents traveling with multiple kids when dad can’t leave theranch1The beautiful sights in Montana are best experienced on Amtrak. Here we are with private cars BLUE RIDGE CLUB and PACIFIC HOM on theEmpire Builder.1During World War II my father, who was born and raised in Montana, was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He met my future motherwho worked at Eglin Air Force Base as a secretary. She was born and raised on a very rural farm in North Florida. Before proposing marriage toher he requested permission from her parents. Included in that request was a promise to bring her back to Florida from Montana every otheryear thereafter. He lived up to his promise for the rest of his life. As a result I remember many trips to Florida with my mother boarding the GreatNorthern train in Great Falls and getting o in De Funiak Springs, Florida. In between was included many adventures, stories, and manymemorable sites from the train window. First was the story of shep the sheep herders dog in Fort Benton who would not leave his master sideeven though he died. He followed his masters con as it was loaded onto the great Northern train in Fort Benton and shep waited at the stationfor his return for years after. He was nally killed by a passing train and a memorial statue remains in Fort Benton today. Then there is the1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyDate90 Responses- 10 EmptyData Responses06-21-20231807-09-20231606-22-20231407-10-2023906-20-2023606-19-2023507-08-2023406-26-2023306-24-20233ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyAdditional questions or comments?12 Responses- 88 EmptyData ResponsesThanks!1Good luck! We need this.1Open a passenger station in Ravalli, Montana. We want to nd a way to revitalize communities in Montana. The town of Ravalli is a central hubfor rail service. The opportunity for revitalization for this community would benet many not only in Lake County, but also on the FlatheadIndian Reservation!1thanks for your consideration and eorts1Having the train come to Plains or Paradise could bring the opportunity for revenue for local businesses and create jobs for locals. It would alsogive us transportation other than our personal vehicles. It would make a great vacation option as well. There are limited things to do in bothtowns and it would be benecial for the communities in several ways1This country needs to embrace railroads and traveling by train!! Why not start at home.1Please design an aging / disability friendly environment and it would be nice if it mirrored the Eurorail. It would be nice if it was pet friendly.1We need this opportunity. It is absurd to have to drive 3 hours in ice and snow to reach the airport or to go grocery shopping.1This is an important service to the most populous part of the east I have friends who come by train and we pick them up in Glacier, they wouldlike to come to Billings and I would like to visit them in Kentucky by rail thru Carbondale, Il.1Stop shipping coal!!!1I'd love to see this come back to Glendive! Especially for the older people that can't rely on their being a ight out to billings and that ourhospital here doesn't oer much at all! They can hop on the rail car and get the care they need, actually anyone in Glendive for that matter. Iwould like to see the railcar back so that I can go and see my family back home much easier. Way more aordable than driving and putting moremiles on my car. Thanks!1ReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORTPAGE Thank You!Big Sky Rail Authority Public SurveyReportsCreate your own Jotform Report - It’s free Create your own Report