Passenger rail authority launches website

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority member Jerry McDonald met with Sanders County commissioners to report on recent progress made by the Rail Authority. McDonald shared with the commissioners he was elected treasurer for the Rail Authority and the term expires in 2023. “We’ve been forming and laying down the groundwork at our principal location in Missoula,” McDonald said. The authority has formed a resolution for adopting counties that wish to be part of the existing authority moving forward. McDonald said Carbon County has submitted their admission to be the latest county to be adopted in. The authority has launched their official website, bigskyrail.org, which will be hosted by Missoula.

A main topic of discussion at the meeting McDonald discussed is a feasibility study the Rail Authority will be conducting in the near future.

“This is how we will go about bringing back passenger rail along this corridor,” McDonald stated. A partial study was conducted by Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) in 2009 and will be used as a model when the Rail Authority launches their own study. “When the funds become available that’s when we will launch the study,” McDonald said. The cost of the study, according to McDonald, will be $65,000. To secure those funds, the Rail Authority plans on reaching out to private donors and participating communities across the state. However, they won’t conduct the study until funds are secured. McDonald plans to have an official treasurer’s report which will contain updated contribution amounts, to be presented to commissioners at the next scheduled meeting.

Commissioner Glen Magera asked McDonald where the authority’s progress was at securing an agreement with Montana Rail Link (MRL) on sharing the track. “MRL hasn’t said specifically that they will reject the proposal,” McDonald said. “So far, there has been no objection. BNSF owns the right of way and has a long-term contract with MRL.” McDonald did say BNSF has shown a willingness for the track to be put to use and so far, MRL has not said a word against the proposal. Magera has held off on committing to invest in the project before securing the track. “If you don’t have a foundation, the whole thing crumbles,” Magera stated. “Funding from the county is contingent on having that in place,” Commissioner Tony Cox said of an agreement with MRL. The commissioners suggested the possibility MRL may not commit until a feasibility study is done. McDonald stated Missoula County Commissioner David Strohmaier, who has been leading the way on the passenger rail project, has told the authority, “in every way, shape and form,” MRL is not against the project.

“No one is paying attention to us in Washington, D.C. right now. We need that feasibility study and from a treasurer’s perspective, we’re trying to be as prudent as we can because looking forward, we are going to see some looming expenses,” McDonald said. The authority’s finance committee is in charge of all fundraising responsibilities. “We’re going to start fundraising immediately,” McDonald said. “For purposes of momentum and public awareness. We need funding in order to operate.” While there are no fundraising events planned for the immediate future, McDonald said there is a page on the Rail Authority’s website to donate toward the project.