Lawmakers extend support for passenger rail service

Montana lawmakers attended a Rail Passengers Association meeting, in person or with representatives or videos shown, and supported long-distance rail passenger service.

"The railroad is truly one of the great equalizers and it must be protected and advocated for all and by all," state Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, said. "If we want to continue to protect our passenger train services, we have to fight for it. We need more wealthy CEOs and politicians to ask the important questions like, 'What is on your heart?' And if they don't ask, we must communicate our values with them anyway."

Sens. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, and Russ Tempel, R-Chester, also attended the NRPA Northwest Division annual meeting, although they did not speak.

U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., was scheduled to speak but due to weather was unable to attend and a representative read a statement from him.

Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Steve Daines, R-,Mont., prepared video presentations that were shown at the meeting in which they both spoke on the importance of the Empire Builder and passenger rail services for rural communities.

Rail Passengers Association President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mathews said that he was impressed the issue has been able to bridge the political gap between Republicans and Democrats, both sides advocating to passenger rail services.

"I like to tell people that rail is not only bi-partisan, it's non-partisan," he said.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate was faced with the choice to continue the Southwest Chief, he said. Ninety-five senators voted to keep the route. Mathews added that especially in the current political environment having so much support across the aisle was unusual, but very positive.

He added that the members of Montana's congressional delegation have been great partners in protecting long distance services in the country and are good examples for the country to follow.

"Really, the Montana delegation has, I would say, been punching above its weight when it comes to support for passenger rails," he said.

Mathews said that passenger rail service connects the country together and helps grow communities.

"It connects America, it unites America, it helps America grow and it helps towns like Cut Bank and Havre and Shelby continue to exist, continue to thrive and continue to have a place in the country," he said.

In his video, Tester said that train travel is critically important to rural communities across the country.

President Donald Trump's administration has made drastic cuts to Amtrak's budget, he said, and he will fight to make sure Amtrak receives the resources it needs and Montana deserves.

He added that last year Havre and Shelby both lost their ticket agents because of budget cuts.

Tester said that he worked with both parties to secure an additional $1.3 billion in national network grants to support Amtrak's long distance services.

"But if we want train travel to thrive, we must also invest in our aging infrastructure, like bridges and tunnels and railways," Tester said. "We need train service in America to look more like it does in Europe, where trains are affordable, convenient, enjoyable and on-time. So instead of cutting budgets we should be beefing them up so folks in rural states like Montana can stay connected."

He added that he will continue to fight until the Trump administration invests the attention and resources in rail travel so it can thrive.

Daines said he will continue to fight to modernize policies, update existing railways and expand opportunities and access for Montana families.

"The Empire Builder is a vital component of our states transportation system and promotes economic growth and connectivity in our rural Hi-Line community," he said. "... I will oppose any effort to cut or reduce the services."

Gianforte said in his statement that the Empire Builder has a rich history and played a roll for him personally. In the 1980s, he said he took a train from Philadelphia, to West Glacier. It was while on the Empire Builder he first experienced Montana and decided to move to the state.

For the last year, he has fought hard to secure ticket agents in the Havre and Shelby stations and to protect Amtrak's funding.

"We must have reliable access to rail services," he said, "particularly in our rural areas because it keeps us connected."

Gianforte added that another way to keep Montana connected is reliable cellular telephone coverage, which he is also working on securing for Montana in the U.S. Congress.

Rail Passenger Association Vice President Art Poole said it is good to talk about the importance of ticket agents, but that is not all that they do, such as checking luggage or assisting an underage child without a guardian.

"Our station people do a lot more than just sell tickets," he said.

Bachmeier said that he was born and raised on the Hi-Line and understands the importance of rural transportation.

When he first campaigned in 2016, he said that one question he asked everyone was, "What is on your heart?"

For too long politicians failed to ask questions about the values of our constituents, listen and truly represent them," he said. "For me that question, 'What is on your heart?' broke through that anger and frustration of the world that politics has become."

One thing that is constantly on the hearts of people on the Hi-Line is ensuring that the future of passenger trains remains a viable form of transportation, Bachmeier said. Passenger trains are facing a threat like never before from corporations that want to save money and focus only on the profit margin. Passenger trains help some of the most vulnerable constituents in the country and should be the top priority.

In Havre, Amtrak is the most used form of public transportation and plays a big roll in the local economy, he said. The Hi-Line not only has an incredible history of railroad passengers, it has an incredible responsibility to provide quality transportation for its passengers, he added.

He said that during the legislative session the Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 34, introduced by Reps. Andrea Olson, D-Missoula, and Mark Sweeney, D-Philipsburg, to study how to improve transportation services in Montana. The study is open to citizens of Montana who are encouraged to participate in process, voice concerns and provide feedback with how legislators can work to improve quality for transportation in Montana. The results of the study will be reported to the Legislature next session.

The committee members which will be conducting the study is made up of four senators and four representatives - Sens. Carlie Boland, D-Great Falls, Diane Sands, D-Missoula, Gordon Vance, R-Belgrade, and Jeff Welborn, R-Dillion and Reps. Olson, Sweeney, Ross Fitzgerald, R-Fairfield, and Denley Loge, R- Saint Regis.

The study will observe the benefits of passenger rail, air and bus services to local communities in Montana and how to better serve communities which have poor public transportation. The study will work to develop a plan to how to better serve communities and citizens who rely on public transportation and provide recommendations to the state legislative appropriations committee on a course of action for the future.

The committee meetings are open to the public and will be concluded prior to Sept. 15, 2020.

For more information on HJ 34 or to see when community meetings are scheduled for the study visit https://leg.mt.gov/committees/interim/2019tric/. People can visit National Rail Passengers Association Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/narprail/.