City on track for a brighter future

Kalispell is on the verge of a monumental transformation that will position the community for retail, industrial, and recreational expansion through the next several decades.

That’s how important the Glacier Rail Park project is, and that means federal approval of a $10 million grant request is critical.

The rail project creates a centralized industrial park at the location of the former McElroy & Wilken gravel pit between Whitefish Stage Road and Flathead Drive. This final component will allow BNSF to end rail traffic through downtown Kalispell by moving existing customers (as well as new ones) to the rail park. In exchange, the city would see valuable real estate freed up for the first time in its 100-plus year history when the railroad tracks that run through the center of town are removed.

As Kellie Danielson, president of Montana West Economic Development, says, “The whole premise behind this is to revitalize the core area,” and we are confident that would be the result.

Roads would be able to connect the north and south parts of town on either side of the railroad tracks. New pedestrian routes would be able to be created, and in the vicinity of Woodland Park and elsewhere, there would be new opportunities for bike trails.

This is not going to come cheap, but a plan exists to make it happen. The Flathead County Economic Development Authority has committed to finding $6 million from various sources. The city of Kalispell is being asked to commit $4.5 million out of the West Side Tax Increment District, and BNSF Railway has pledged half a million dollars as well.

But to become a reality, the partners are going to have to convince Uncle Sam to invest $10 million in the project. The grant request is pending. Frankly, we can’t think of any better use for the money than this worthy project. Unfortunately, two prior grant applications have been rejected, so nothing is certain until the check is delivered.

What is needed now is a united community approach. If the city, the county, and the commercial partners all get behind the project, it will stand a good chance of coming to fruition.

Let’s hope so. It has been many years coming.