Montana's Sen.Tester gets OK for Amtrak route study. Billings to Missoula and beyond. Public meeting on the subject Feb. 29 in Helena
| February 24, 2008 |  View for printing |
Supporters of re-establishing a railroad passenger line that ran from Billings to Missoula and beyond have made a stride forward, but questions remain over who would pay for the service.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., successfully passed through the U.S. Senate a measure that would require Amtrak to study possible reinstatement of the old North Coast Hiawatha Route. Amtrak ended the route in 1979 in a cost-cutting move.
The U.S. House has not yet begun to craft its version of the bill. Even if the measure were passed this year and the study completed, government funding still would need to be found.
The Montana Association of Railroad Passengers will have a public meeting on the subject Feb. 29 in Helena, with presentations from a variety of railroad, state and federal officials.
By NOELLE STRAUB, IR Washington Bureau
Full Story: http://helenair.com/articles/2008/02 ... _amtrak.txt
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