The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority grew to 10 Montana counties on Tuesday in a growing effort to restore Amtrak service to the state’s southern tier.

While passenger rail service has contracted nationally during the pandemic, Sen. Jon Tester said it enjoys bipartisan support in the Senate and could be eyed for investment down the road with the aid of an infrastructure bill.

As counties across southern Montana join the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority in a push to restore passenger service to the region, other states are launching ambitious goals of their own, recognizing the role transportation will play in future economies. The SRC is the model the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority should explore.

Montana officials are hosting a Virtual Passenger Rail Summit on Thursday to educate and advocate for the restoration of passenger rail service to southern Montana and continued support for Amtrak's Empire Builder. Representatives from the Southern Rail Commission and Transportation for America will present on successful regional collaborations and more.

John Robert Smith is the Chairman of Transportation for America, a program of Smart Growth America. He was a four-term mayor of Meridian, MS, 1993-2009, and served on the Board of Amtrak, 1998-2003, the last two years as chairman.

Shortly before coronavirus hit, Green, the director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Jacksonville State University, completed a study titled “The Economic Impact of Passenger Rail Expansion on the State of Alabama” that is getting a lot of visibility in Alabama.

See highlights from the recent Surface Transportation Reauthorization that may affect passenger rail initiatives.

With a 6-1 vote Tuesday, the Mobile City Council hopped on board with its support of Amtrak service by committing around $3 million starting in the year 2023 so that passenger trains can run between the Port City and New Orleans.

It’s been more than 50 years since the last train brought passengers into and out of Baton Rouge.