Holden Raises Concerns Over BNSF Railroad Farm Crossing Closures

Former Montana State Senator Ric Holden has drafted a letter to Montana’s federal delegation alerting them to actions being taken by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway to eliminate farm railroad crossings across Montana.

Holden said he has received several calls from Montana agricultural producers who describe the railroad’s actions as heavy-handed and potentially harmful to farming operations.

According to producers, the closure of certain railroad crossings would force farm equipment onto public highways, creating traffic congestion and increasing safety risks for motorists. In at least one case, the closure of a crossing would require farmers to transport equipment an additional six miles along a paved highway in one direction.

Holden also reported concerns that railroad officials are proposing crossing agreements that would make individual farmers liable for any accidents occurring at the crossings.

“Montana agriculture relies on small farm crossings to access cropland,” Holden said. “Some of the crossings being targeted by the railroad were established during Montana’s homesteading era and remain just as critical today as they were more than 100 years ago.”

Letters documenting the crossing closure issue have been sent to members of Montana’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., requesting their assistance in addressing the concerns of agricultural producers and rural communities affected by the proposed closures.