HELENA -- The Montana House wants state government to be on record in favor
of establishing passenger train service across southern Montana.
Attempting to add a legislative voice to a citizens' campaign for the route,
the House voted 80-20 Saturday for House Joint Resolution 3. It says Amtrak
should operate a Denver-Spokane, Wash., train, which would cross southern
Montana.
The Legislature uses resolutions to express positions on issues, but they
have no force of law, and a House member against the railroad measure called
it a "do-nothing, feel-good" statement.
Rep. Joe Balyeat, R-Bozeman, also said buses are better than passenger trains
because they are faster, cost less and can go more places. The proposed rail
service would lose money and always require a government subsidy, said
Balyeat, a leading advocate of leaner government.
The Montana/Wyoming Association of Railroad Passengers is pushing for the
train service, and Montana's U.S. senators, Republican Conrad Burns and
Democrat Max Baucus, are sponsoring a bill that would help finance the route.
A passenger route through southern Montana was discontinued in the 1970s, but
Amtrak still operates its Empire Builder across the state's northern tier. In
1997, Amtrak discontinued a Chicago-to-Seattle route that passed through
southern Wyoming.
Advocates of the proposed route say it would stimulate economic development
and provide a transportation alternative for Montanans.
Saturday's vote on the resolution sponsored by Rep. Michelle Lee,
D-Livingston, was preliminary. If the resolution receives final legislative
approval, it will be sent to Amtrak, the Montana/Wyoming Association of
Railroad Passengers and others.
>From the Great Falls Tribune on line 01/21 -- Mark Meyer
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