HomeMy WebLinkAboutLaurel Urban Renewal Agency Minutes 07.13.2009MINUTES
LAUREL URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY
JULY 13, 2009
THE OWL CAFE` - 203 E. MAIN STREET
Members present: Shirley McDermott, Dirk Frickel, Bill Kampfer, Daniel Klein, Dean
Rankin
Advisors present: Steve Zeier
Others present: Judy Goldsby, Jim Green, Cynthia Ware
Jim Green Discussing Passenger trains in Montana
Rail service thru Laurel - is our interest personal, business or political?
Jon Tester is trying to get money appropriated for rail service from Chicago to Seattle
and Billings to Denver. Also would like to have service from Billings to Missoula but it
needs to take less than 8 hours to be effective.
Helena and Great falls rails in disrepair, BNSF won't abandon because then other
railroads can come into the area and compete. State of Montana can purchase lines with
not freight hauling.
Looking for new members, need at least 50 to make an impact. Follow Senate bill 291
dealing with rail authority.
When looking for a depot to handle passengers Billings already has a ticket booth and
depot in operation. Laurel has no dedicated track to carry passenger trains, it takes at least
45 minutes to go thru Laurel. Laurel is also looking at a new interchange on I-90 in West
Laurel. There is a study to start bus service from Laurel to Billings. Parking in Billings is
a problem as well as people staying over although there is some talk about converting the
old Postal building. There is a turn around in Huntley as well as there is a turn table in
Laurel.
4 years ago the railroad comm. Lowered the grain rate which has helped
The Montana DOT has final say over the railroads and the governor has appointed the
board has been hand picked by the governor so not much will happen until 2015
Many thanks to Jim Green for his insight to the railroads of Montana
Randy Hafer will be here August 10 to pick historical buildings, to look at Sara's list and
try to go thru the grain elevator.
We are still waiting to hear from the Mayor on non-voting members.