NonStop Local: Montana receiving $500,000 for North Coast Hiawatha passenger rail development

Montana is receiving $500,000 in funding for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority to create a plan to reinstall a historic passenger rail route in the southern part of the state. 

In 1971 through 1979, the North Coast Hiawatha Amtrak route linked Chicago to Seattle with several stops in Montana including Glendive, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Helena and Missoula.

The Corridor Identification and Development funds are part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

According to a release from Sen. Jon Tester’s Office, with the funding, the North Coast Hiawatha passenger rail is included in long-term planning for development, and is significant to bringing a passenger rail system to more Montanans.