All Aboard Northwest reaches out to blogger

Hello Larry, 

I just wanted to follow-up with you about your comments on the Dakota Free Press article "Idaho wants Amtrak." 

I want to thank you for your comments and ideas supporting passenger rail in South Dakota (your personal blog) and let you know about a Federal Railroad Administration study that may be the impetus to get South Dakota "on the map." I am an invited stakeholder with this Study through my professional work.

I lead a regional transportation advocacy organization, All Aboard Northwest. All Aboard Northwest has been created as the Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Working Group in response to a request from eight US Senators. We are the region-wide organization and work with state groups like the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. It is our mission that all people and states in the region have an equal voice in the future of passenger rail. We are advocating for long-distance passenger rail since the operational costs for them come through Federal Amtrak Appropriations; not from states or communities like "state-supported" service. 

Thank you for your interest, I just wanted to flag this study for you to follow as well. 

Dan Bilka  

Co-Founder & President, All Aboard Northwest 

Coordinator, Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Coalition 

Director, Rail Passengers Association 

Fmr. South Dakota Representative

Although I grew up in Elkton near Sioux Falls and spent nearly 30 years in the Black Hills and ten in Montana my current obsession is integrating the New Mexico Rail Runner with the Santa Fe Southern spur to Lamy into a route to Denver!

A new poll shows a staggering majority of Americans want to see more investment in trains. (via @thrillist)
https://t.co/RdZDyCgrYF

— Vox (@voxdotcom) August 17, 2023