Hi-Line Community Engagement Report Highlights Strong Regional Support for Restoring Passenger Rail

Communities across Montana’s Hi-Line continue to demonstrate strong interest in restoring passenger rail service along the historic North Coast route.

The newly released Hi-Line Community Engagement Report summarizes months of outreach, meetings, and conversations with residents, local leaders, businesses, and tribal representatives across northern Montana. The report documents widespread support for reconnecting the region to the national passenger rail network through the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, a proposed 2,300-mile route linking Chicago with Seattle and Portland.

The outreach effort focused on understanding community priorities, economic opportunities, mobility needs, and potential station locations along the Hi-Line. Participants emphasized the importance of reliable transportation options for rural communities, connections to healthcare and education, tourism opportunities, and economic development across the region.

The findings will help guide ongoing planning work under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, which is evaluating the restoration of long-distance passenger rail service across the Greater Northwest.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority continues to work with communities, tribal nations, local governments, state partners, and national stakeholders to advance the corridor and ensure northern Montana communities are fully represented in the planning process.

Read the full report here:
https://bigskyrailmt.gov/hi-line-engagement-report