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. [End of article]
Even if commuter rail takes a long time to develop- 10 years was given as an estimate- the thing that is very exciting to me is that this project has the ability to refocus all present and future planning efforts towards a complete multi-modal, sustainable transportation system. So it's not that first train pulling out of the station that betters the air and general quality of life, but the _process_ of getting to that point. That process started in earnest yesterday.
Comment By michael, 6-16-06i'd hate to see a commuter rail system induce out of state developers to harvest multiplexed residences and homogenic shopping centers along it's path due to the region's currently agreeable real estate economics. imagine an insidiously sprawling north reserve between missoula and the bitterroot. however, if the technology utilizes renewable energy like solar power or draws from a grid powered by wind, it could be a model for other regions in the country that are growing too quickly for comfort.
Comment By tom, 6-16-06Too expensive, $30 a day to get to work, these people are dreamers...........
Comment By Bob Giordano, MIST, 6-19-06I agree with Michael. We will need some good land use planning in the Bitterroot to go along with a train to promote sustainable development, and the train should be powered by perhaps wind or biodiesel. I agree with Tom too- the fare cannot be too expensive. But it should not be too cheap either, as that would promote more travel. One speaker thought the fare would be around $3 each way from Lolo to Missoula.
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.