Federal, rail leaders head to Helena for Greater Northwest summit

Federal transportation officials, U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy and rail advocates are gathering in Helena Aug. 25-27 for the 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit. The event will focus on freight and passenger rail investment, including work to restore service on the 2,300-mile Big Sky North Coast Corridor.

Why it matters: - The summit brings together federal officials, rail leaders, Tribal Nations and local governments around rail investment that affects freight movement, passenger mobility and regional economic ties. - The gathering comes as the Big Sky North Coast Corridor advances through federal planning work aimed at restoring long-distance passenger rail between Chicago and Seattle/Portland. - The event could shape priorities for cross-border collaboration, workforce needs, tourism and mobility across the Greater Northwest.

What happened: - The 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit will take place Aug. 25-27 in Helena. - The event is co-hosted by the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority and the Pacific Northwest Economic Region's Regional Infrastructure Accelerator. - U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., will join a Wednesday fireside chat with Billings Mayor Mike Nelson. - Karen Hedlund of the Surface Transportation Board will deliver the Thursday morning keynote. - Senior U.S. Department of Transportation officials Michael Giordano and Michael Rutherford will join a corridor discussion with Will Resch of the USDOT Build America Bureau.

The details: - The summit will center on freight and passenger rail investment, federal rail policy, regional and cross-border collaboration, workforce development, tourism and mobility. - Featured speakers also include Sean Jeans-Gail of the Rail Passengers Association, Rebecca Higgins of the Eno Center for Transportation and Art Guzzetti of the American Public Transportation Association. - Representatives from the Northwest Seaport Alliance, Mountain Line and BSPRA Crow Tribe Director Luella Brien are also scheduled to participate. - BSPRA serves as project manager for the Big Sky North Coast Corridor. - The corridor is an eight-state, approximately 2,300-mile effort to restore passenger rail service between Chicago and Seattle/Portland through southern North Dakota and Montana. - The corridor is advancing through Step 2 of the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program. - Route, service and ridership development is underway. - BSPRA will unveil new public-information materials at the summit to help communities understand the corridor, the federal process and the mobility, economic and community opportunities tied to restored passenger rail. - Registration options include single-day and full-summit passes, and virtual participation will be available. - Full agenda, speaker biographies and registration are available here. - Working press may attend in person or virtually at no cost. - Media can register using code MEDIA on the summit registration page, and BSPRA will review credentials before approving access.

Between the lines: - BSPRA is using the summit to turn a policy conversation into a coalition-building event with federal, state, local and tribal stakeholders in the same room. - The corridor pitch is broader than passenger service alone; BSPRA is framing it as a mobility, economic development and community-connection project. - The inclusion of freight officials underscores that rail funding debates in the region are not just about trains for riders.

What's next: - Summit discussions are expected to feed into next steps for the corridor's federal development process and broader rail advocacy in the region. - BSPRA's new materials will be part of a public outreach push to build local understanding and support. - Media interviews with speakers or BSPRA leadership can be arranged through Kim Whittemore.