Poster Session I
Project Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Kaetlyn Cordingley
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Davidson Honors College
Abstract / Artist's Statement
The objective of this survey is to collect data to inform the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) about college student perspectives on passenger rail. BSPRA is the main organization in Montana advocating for the reinstatement of the Big Sky North Coast Corridor (formerly called the North Coast Hiawatha) passenger rail line, which would span from Chicago to Seattle and/or Portland with 10 to 12 stops in southern Montana and an additional 30 to 40 stops in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Through our research, we determined that Montana university students are an under-informed demographic about the potential future of passenger rail. The goal of our exploratory survey is to gain specific feedback from university students to create informed community education and outreach that targets the areas highlighted by the students themselves through the survey.
Through a Qualtrics online survey, we aim to gauge the current opinions and knowledge of passenger rail among university students. This anonymous, 10-15-minute-long online survey will be available to students from March 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026. The survey is directed at Montana university students at the University of Montana, UM Western, Montana Tech, Missoula College, and Helena College. Our survey asks questions to determine potential uses and benefits of passenger rail. Additionally, we seek to determine if students find passenger rail to be more attractive, safe, and economical than other common modes of transportation.
We expect to find, through our exploratory study, a gap in knowledge and awareness of passenger rail in the college student demographic. As a result, our research project will provide important data to measure that knowledge and provide key areas where BSPRA can focus its attention.
Category
Social Sciences
Passenger Rail for Montana College Students Survey
UC South Ballroom
The objective of this survey is to collect data to inform the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) about college student perspectives on passenger rail. BSPRA is the main organization in Montana advocating for the reinstatement of the Big Sky North Coast Corridor (formerly called the North Coast Hiawatha) passenger rail line, which would span from Chicago to Seattle and/or Portland with 10 to 12 stops in southern Montana and an additional 30 to 40 stops in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Through our research, we determined that Montana university students are an under-informed demographic about the potential future of passenger rail. The goal of our exploratory survey is to gain specific feedback from university students to create informed community education and outreach that targets the areas highlighted by the students themselves through the survey.
Through a Qualtrics online survey, we aim to gauge the current opinions and knowledge of passenger rail among university students. This anonymous, 10-15-minute-long online survey will be available to students from March 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026. The survey is directed at Montana university students at the University of Montana, UM Western, Montana Tech, Missoula College, and Helena College. Our survey asks questions to determine potential uses and benefits of passenger rail. Additionally, we seek to determine if students find passenger rail to be more attractive, safe, and economical than other common modes of transportation.
We expect to find, through our exploratory study, a gap in knowledge and awareness of passenger rail in the college student demographic. As a result, our research project will provide important data to measure that knowledge and provide key areas where BSPRA can focus its attention.