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(Montana)House backs passenger rail service for southern Montana

To: nptelltale@egroups.com, BRHSlist@egroups.com
Subject: (Montana)House backs passenger rail service for southern Montana
From: VerMontanan@a...
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 19:54:10 EST
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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