The Big Sky Rail Authority says Montana could see $40 million in economic benefits if passenger rail service from Chicago to Seattle along the North Coast Hiawatha Trail is restored.

Restoration of the route would restore passenger train service along the southern part of the state from Billings through Missoula.

In total, the study concluded there would be $271 million in economic benefits in the seven states the rail line would pass through.

Currently, passenger rail service in Montana only travels across the Hi-Line. That means if you wanted to take the train to Seattle, you would most likely be driving to Whitefish to board the train.

“They would be able to catch the train right here in Missoula. There are plenty of other folks that I have heard from who -- and this would be called induced ridership -- folks who otherwise are not going the distance to travel all the way to the Empire Builder,” Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier said.

He thinks the new route might attract people to travel who otherwise might not.

“Perhaps not even taking any other mode of transportation because they are unable to, would have a mode of transportation by rail that they could tap into right here in Missoula. Connect to other places in Montana to conduct business or for leisure travels and even travel beyond the state of Montana,” Strohmaier said.

The Rail Passengers Association website says they are a non-profit organization “serving as a voice of the American Passenger on Capitol Hill for improved Amtrak services.”

The survey estimates 426,000 riders would take advantage of the service.