Montana News Roundup: Sheehy Encourages Passenger Rail Plans

Senator Tim Sheehy says efforts to expand passenger rail service to Montana have his full support. Although he cautions that the campaign to expand the "southern route" shouldn't take too long, or come at the expense of existing Amtrak service across the HiLine.

Sheehy made the comments on a video feed to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority conference in Livingston yesterday.

"I think for the last 35 years, there's been a bit of a soul-searching moment for passenger rail in America. And I believe now is the time for a renaissance in that," Sheehy told the conference. "And I think Montana's a perfect place to see that happen."

"The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority has been a fantastic leader in that by going to the most local level possible, going to our counties, going to our cities, and getting our partners on board." -Senator Tim Sheehy

  Sheehy did warn the group that he believes the "free market" should help drive the initiative, not using a "government subsidy" that lies unused for years, as happened with California rail projects.

More fishing restrictions lifted

Shorter days and cooler overnights are dropping river temperatures, with Montana FWP biologists removing more fishing restrictions on several rivers.

The Upper Bitterroot River from just south of Darby to Veterans Bridge in Hamilton, and the Lower Shields River from Brackett Creek downstream to the Yellowstone have now been reopened. That's in addition to the lifting of restrictions on the Blackfoot and the Upper Madison above Hebgen Reservoir last week.

However, a full fishing closure has been ordered for the North Fork of the Blackfoot River. That's to protect adult bull trout because of the extremely low stream flow.

Billings Airport starts planning

Billings Logan Airport is starting work on its 2025 Airport Master Plan, with an eye toward how the airport will grow and develop over the next 20 years.

The process kicked off last night with a public open house, with plans to study every aspect of the airport's operations, including terminal expansion, parking, security, and runways.

More problems with aging bridges

Missoula County continues to have problems with its aging bridges, as county engineers announced this week, another span is being shut down for safety.

The Sunset Hill Road Bridge near Greenough was closed immediately yesterday, with engineers saying it can no longer safely handle any vehicle traffic. The bridge, over the Blackfoot River is small, but provides a popular route for local residents, fishermen, and hunters. It was built in 1907.

     The county hopes to replace it, but as with other compromised bridges in the county, that could depend on voters passing a special levy to raise money for repairs this fall.

Montana tow truck drivers honored

A new memorial in Three Forks was dedicated this week, built to honor the lives of two Montanans who were struck and killed while responding with towing support at an accident on Interstate 90 near Columbus in October 2020, and the lives of three other tow truck drivers killed in Montana since.