SB54-21/22: Resolution Endorsing the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. This resolution passed 14Y-3N-2A during the December 8, 2021 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM)

Glueckert, Mary Melissa

Lock, Canyon S.

O\u27Neill, Lauren

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present ASUM Student Government Fall 12-8-2021 SB54-21/22: Resolution Endorsing the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Canyon S. Lock Mary Melissa Glueckert Lauren O'Neill Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/asum_resolutions Let us know how access to this document benefits you. — STOMmANIADMNBPWNKWWWWNONNNNNNNNNRRRRRPReWNrRDOANADUNABRWNHKTOANIAANKRWNThe Associated Students of the University of MontanaResolution Endorsing The Big Sky Passenger Rail AuthorityNovember12, 2021SB54-21/22Authored by: Canyon S. Lock, ASUM Vice President; Mary Melissa Glueckert, ASUMSenator; Lauren O’Neill, ASUM Senator;Whereas, The primary purpose of the Associated Students of the University of Montana(“ASUM”)is to advocate for the general welfare of students at the University of Montana(“UM”);Whereas, On November 10, 2021, Jordan Hess, Director of ASUM Transportation, and DavidStrohmaier, Missoula County Commissioner, presented to the Senate about the benefits of theBig Sky Passenger Rail Authority;Whereas, The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority seeks to “preserve and improve abandonedrailservice for agriculture, industry, or passengertraffic” with an emphasis on reinvigoratingrailservice in southern Montana!;Whereas, Passengerrail services through southern Montana ended in 19797;Whereas,It is estimated that transportation costs account for approximately 17% of an averagepostsecondary student’s budget who commutes to school, and is the second highest monthly costfor UM students**;Whereas, Transportation costs are burdensome to many UMstudents;Whereas, Dueto the rising housing crisis in Missoula, many UM studentsare unable to live inMissoula, and therefore must commute every day from various towns across Montana’;Whereas, Expansion of Big Sky Rail Services would allow many studentsto travel to and fromUM’s campusand the city of Missoula byrail; 'About- We are the BSPRA. Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2021, fromhttps://www.bigskyrail.org/about#:~:text=Big%20Sky%20Passenger%20Rail%20Authority%20The%20purpose%2Oof,be%20practicable%20and%20necessary%20for%20the”o20public%20welfare. : Hanners, R. (2008, March 13). Resurrecting the Southern Montana Rail Line. Brotherhood of LocomotiveEngineers and Trainmen. Retrieved November 28, 2021, from https://www.ble- —t.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=2 1486.3 Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University, "2019 #realcollege Survey SchoolReport" (2020). ASUM Renter Center Publications. 5. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/renter_center_pubs/5.4 Living Expense Budget 2020-21. Education Professionals. (2021, July 7). Retrieved November28, 2021, froms://professionals.collegeboard.org/higher-ed/financial-aid/living-expense/2020.> Bridge, B. (2021, April 5). Montana's unaffordable housing crisis. Montana Business Quarterly. RetrievedNovember28, 2021, from https://www.montanabusinessquarterly.com/montanas-unaffordable-housing-crisis/.    343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172Whereas, The Big Sky Rail Services would expand accessto on-campus education at UM,particularly for students wholive in rural Montanaor do not have access to other modes oftransportation;Whereas, Manystudents bring their cars to campus in order to commute between their hometown and the UM campus;Whereas, On October 18, 2021, the Senate passed SB36-21/22: Resolution Encouraging UMPDto Adopt a Parking Violation System Similar to Missoula Parking Commission, whichrecognized student concerns surrounding parking issues on the UM campus’;Whereas, Greater access to the passengerrail in southern Montana would likely result in fewerstudents bringing cars to campusand, by extension, more available parking on the UM campus;Whereas, On November10, 2021, the Senate passed SB42-21/22: Resolution Urging theUniversity of Montana Foundation, The University of Montana, and Students to Form a WorkingGroup to Explore Fossil Fuel Divestment, which established ASUM’s concernsregarding theclimatecrisis’; .Whereas, Electric trains are a more sustainable and affordable meansoftransportation thanmotor vehicles®;Therefore, Let It Be Resolved, That ASUM hereby endorses the Big Sky Passenger RailAuthority;Therefore, Let It Be Further Resolved, That ASUM requests that the Big Sky Passenger RailAuthority be carried out with sustainability in mind, and that current and future rail services inMontana be madeelectric; ,Therefore, Let It Be Further Resolved, That ASUM encourages the Montana Associated Students(“MAS”) to pass a resolution endorsing the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority;Therefore, Let It Be Further Resolved, That this Resolution be sent to David Strohmaier,Missoula County Commissioner and Chair of Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Board ofDirectors; Jason Stuart, Vice Chair of Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Board of Directors; BillBerg, Secretary of Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Board of Directors; Jerry McDonald,Treasurer of Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Board of Directors; Jacob Kunze, MASPresident. 7S6 Glueckert, Mary Melissa and Ververis, Nicholas, “SB36-21/22: Resolution Encouraging UMPDto Adopt aParking Violation System Similar to Missoula Parking Commission” (2021).7 Lock, CanyonS., “SB42-21/22: Resolution Urging the University of Montana Foundation, The University ofMontana, and Students to Form a Working Group to Explore Fossil Fuel Divestment” (2021).8 Julin, K. (2021, November 24). Battery-electric trains can deliver environmentaljustice, cost savings andresilience to the U.S. Phys.org. Retrieved November28, 2021, from https://phys.org/news/202 1-1 1-battery-electric-environmental-justice-resilience.html.  7374757677787980818283Passed by Committee: December5, 2021Passed by ASUM Senate: December8, 2021WikYaElizabeth Bowles,Chair Relations and Affairs Passed 14Y-3N-2A.  CanyonS. Lock,/ _Chiair ofthe Senate

SB54-21/22: Resolution Endorsing the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1938&context=asum_resolutions

SB54-21/22: Resolution Endorsing the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

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