Growth and Transportation
Will a Commuter Rail System Solve Missoula’s Transportation Problems?
By Brenna Moore, 6-15-06
Experts on the possiblity of a commuter rail system concluded in a meeting on Thursday that the next step along the path to start a passenger rail system in Missoula is to find a way to get people excited about the option, create a strong progress plan for the project and decide if a commuter rail is the best choice to solve air pollution, traffic congestion and high gas prices for Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley.
The symposium, titled "A Discussion on the Feasibility of Commuter Rail Service in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys: An Option to High Gas Prices," offered information about a new commuter rail system for Missoula, one that would build on the current freight rails in Montana and offer an alternative in transportation. The meeting's presenters said a passenger rail line would help decrease air pollutants so common to Missoula, decrease traffic congestion and help build a stronger community and quality of life.
"We ought to be able to commute ourselves around the city without pollution and without alienating ourselves from one another," said Bill Carey, Missoula County Commissioner and presenter.
Because certain economic trends like population increase, business growth and urban development are now occuring in places like Missoula, cars are no longer the best or wisest means of transportation, said Dan Kemmis, a senior fellow for the Center for the Rocky Mountain West.
"We're finally beginning to evolve out of the automobile trend that's been going on for over 100 years... we have a lot of thinking to do, and we have to be as smart and as wise as we can be," he said.
The rail system would not be cheap, experts say, but in terms of lowering air pollution and reducing traffic congestion, which are factors that contribute to the overall cost equation, a passenger rail system is possibly the most cost-effective solution in reducing these transportation problems, presenters said.
The feasibility of a commuter rail system, including more talk about the cost of the project, will be discussed further at tomorrow's City Club meeting held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Governor’s Room at the Florence Hotel Building at Higgins and Front Street in downtown Missoula. It is most likely too late to reserve a spot for lunch, presenters said, but everyone is encouraged to attend and learn more about this possibilty for a brighter transportation future.
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Widening highway 93, the costs of all the crashes and deaths that happen on that road, the air pollution, etc: this all adds up to massive costs to society and individual drivers. These costs are not sustainable.
Also, someone commuting Missoula/Hamilton by car is already paying close to $30 a day right now.
The main costs of starting a train system would be upgrading the track, and adding crossing gates/ lights. I think a goal of the project should be to keep the system simple and economical.