Oral Presentations and Performances: Session II
Project Type
Presentation
Project Funding and Affiliations
QUEST
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Kartlyn Cordingley
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Director of Career Development Davidson Honors College
Additional Mentor
Ryan Fleetwood, ryan.fleetwood@umconnect.umt.edu
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Abstract
The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) is a regional coalition of 12 Montana counties with a mission of improving and expanding passenger rail service throughout Montana and the greater northwest region. The BSPRA seeks to restore a passenger rail route that would connect Chicago to Seattle, passing through Montana, known as the Big Sky North Coast Corridor (BSNCC). The goal of QUEST is to provide a relevant, realistic, and research-based recommendation that assists the mission of the BSPRA. We identified a need to actively engage the BSPRA with the University of Montana which is a regional hub and a community of likely rail users. We conducted qualitative interviews with individuals representing key perspectives including ASUM Director of Transportation Vickie Rectenwald and Dave Strohmaier, chair of the BSPRA and Missoula County commissioner. Additionally, we examined a virtual forum on passenger rail hosted by Montana State University as a case study for educational partnerships between the BSPRA and university communities. Using this information, we are developing a three-phase plan to connect the BSPRA’s vision of expanding safe, reliable, sustainable, and economic passenger rail with the University of Montana’s goal of addressing rising transportation demands, limited parking availability, and increasing expectations for sustainability. Our recommended first phase is a facilitated town hall meeting to build relationships and spread awareness among the university community. The second phase of our proposal is expanding the reach of the existing Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) UDASH bus system to provide twice-daily service to the train depot. Finally, in the third phase, we offer steps for maintaining partnerships between organizations to ensure the continued success of the BSNCC and UM.
Category
Social Sciences
Connecting the University Community to Passenger Rail
UC 329
Abstract
The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) is a regional coalition of 12 Montana counties with a mission of improving and expanding passenger rail service throughout Montana and the greater northwest region. The BSPRA seeks to restore a passenger rail route that would connect Chicago to Seattle, passing through Montana, known as the Big Sky North Coast Corridor (BSNCC). The goal of QUEST is to provide a relevant, realistic, and research-based recommendation that assists the mission of the BSPRA. We identified a need to actively engage the BSPRA with the University of Montana which is a regional hub and a community of likely rail users. We conducted qualitative interviews with individuals representing key perspectives including ASUM Director of Transportation Vickie Rectenwald and Dave Strohmaier, chair of the BSPRA and Missoula County commissioner. Additionally, we examined a virtual forum on passenger rail hosted by Montana State University as a case study for educational partnerships between the BSPRA and university communities. Using this information, we are developing a three-phase plan to connect the BSPRA’s vision of expanding safe, reliable, sustainable, and economic passenger rail with the University of Montana’s goal of addressing rising transportation demands, limited parking availability, and increasing expectations for sustainability. Our recommended first phase is a facilitated town hall meeting to build relationships and spread awareness among the university community. The second phase of our proposal is expanding the reach of the existing Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) UDASH bus system to provide twice-daily service to the train depot. Finally, in the third phase, we offer steps for maintaining partnerships between organizations to ensure the continued success of the BSNCC and UM.