Commissioner reports Big Sky passenger-rail work; emphasizes federal funding and station uncertainty

Commissioner Ronda updated the Broadwater County Commission on a recent Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority conference that examined potential passenger-rail service and station opportunities for towns including Townsend.

The commissioner said route decisions remain unresolved and that federal funding and participation by Amtrak will shape whether trains stop in Townsend. “You need to get the train first,” Commissioner Ronda said, quoting presenters who urged prioritizing service before spending on stations.

The update summarized presentations from manufacturing representatives and speakers from other states who have developed passenger service. Ronda said the authority heard that passenger service can bring economic benefits and that federal grant programs are an important source of capital; she cited an example that “Malta, Montana received a $15,000,000 grant to improve the Empire Builder up north.”

Ronda said some questions for the authority include whether a route would run through Helena and Townsend or bypass Townsend via Butte, and how freight and passenger operators could coordinate. She also said a decision on federal reauthorization is anticipated around May 2026 and that a number of funding and implementation details remain unresolved.

The commissioner said local workgroups and the authority will continue studying routing and station options and that potential benefits — including tourism and supporting local businesses — were cited by presenters from other regions. She said partnering localities would need to plan last-mile connections (for example, shuttle service) if a station were sited near Townsend.

The report was informational; commissioners did not take formal action on the item.