Transportation is an ongoing challenge for business connectivity across Montana. Long drives and expensive flights are typically the only alternatives for in-state business travel. The recent push to restore passenger rail across southern Montana could have immediate economic benefits:
Easier, more affordable trips between cities
Ability to work while traveling
Less environmental impact
Safer travel to Cat/Griz games
15:1 return on investment for the state
John-Robert Smith, chair and senior policy adviser, Transportation for America, will discuss:
Current opportunities and threats to passenger rail in Montana
Brand new study on the impact of long-distance trains on local economies, including Montana’s northern Empire Builder
Federal grant programs available to fund rail infrastructure expansion Logistics of working with Amtrak, BNSF and other rail companies
Case studies of businesses benefiting from rail expansion in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama
This webinar is a preview of the Montana Passenger Rail Virtual Summit to be held Thursday, September 17. Register to attend the free summit to learn how you can support the work of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority in Montana. Feel free to forward this invitation to other business leaders who would benefit.
Speaker Bio: John-Robert Smith currently serves as chairman of Transportation for America, where he advises on strategy, capacity building and national outreach. He became chairman in 2012 after leading Reconnecting America as president and CEO. He previously served as mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, for 16 years. During his tenure, he facilitated public-private partnerships that resulted in more than $430 million in funding for infrastructure projects that bolstered the economy and residents’ quality of life. A recognized authority on public and private transportation and development funding, he guided the development and construction of the Southeast’s first multi-modal transportation center, Meridian Union Station. Smith is also a senior policy adviser to DC-based Smart Growth America and has served on the boards for Amtrak and the National Forum on the Future of Passenger Rail. Link to his online bio.