South Dakota
Transportation Secretary throws cold water on South Dakota Amtrak expansion
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – While momentum for Amtrak expansion to South Dakota has been growing for months, the state’s Transportation Secretary is doubtful it will ever become reality.
No state official had commented on the Federal Railroad Administration’s Long Distance Service Study until Wednesday when Jundt addressed the topic during a State Railroad Board meeting, the first since the FRA released its third round of meeting materials.
“I’m just being as honest as possible here. I do not see any routes in South Dakota rising to the top from a high-priority standpoint. As you know, just the cost of physically doing rail in our state is very expensive,” Jundt said during Wednesday’s meeting.
MORE: Advocates: Proposed Amtrak service a big first step for South Dakota
Jundt was part of a 2021 study that concluded that South Dakota would not be a viable candidate for passenger rail expansion.
Jundt cited several reasons why the two routes going through South Dakota would be pushed back by the FRA in their final report to Congress.
The first is that much of the state’s current rail infrastructure would need to be upgraded to meet the FRA’s requested top speed of 80 miles per hour for passenger service. A recent project with the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad upgraded 163 miles of rail from Fort Pierre to Rapid City at the cost of $82 million – $42 million coming from RCP&E, $22 million from a U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE grant, and an additional $20 million from the State of South Dakota.
“Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern’s line to go from 10 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour was quite significant,” Jundt said. “Just due to the fact of our expansive shales that we have in the state, and so I would anticipate that when they get to the point of physically putting a dollar value to this, it’s going to be definitely over a billion dollars, and more than that.”
Another reason why Jundt doubts passenger rail could ever be feasible in South Dakota is because of the state’s low population compared to other proposed routes in the study. He said when the FRA is looking at potential ridership in its ongoing fourth round of studies and stakeholder meetings, it will be hard to justify the cost compared to the number of travelers from South Dakota.
“Our anticipation is that the concept that they have out there, as they physically go through some of this, I would see a rate of return if that’s what they’re looking at and what ridership would be and everything else might be truly envisioned on this, is not going to rank as high as the other routes that they’ve identified,” Jundt said.
MORE: Considering economic pros and cons of potential passenger rail expansion
Those arguments, though, are at odds with Dan Bilka, President of the advocacy group All Aboard Northwest and one of the main driving forces behind bringing back passenger rail service to South Dakota for the first time since 1969.
Bilka said Friday that the funds for the projects are already planned and that if the State of South Dakota, as well as counties, cities and organizations, don’t voice their support, those funds would be lost. He said if Amtrak were going to come to the state, they expect the federal government to take a lion’s share of the cost.
“We’ll see what the final recommendation is from the Long Distance project team about what to pay for. Our personal take is that it should not be put onto the states or communities. Maybe they can ask for a local match, but it should not be burdensome, especially since we have not had passenger rail service here in South Dakota since before Amtrak service,” Bilka said.
Jundt also noted that if Amtrak were to come to South Dakota, the state would lose its Special Transportation Circumstance grants, or STC grants, that it receives from the federal government each year. South Dakota has been receiving those funds for some time, and those grants totaled about $27 million each in 2022 and 2023.
However, those grants would go away if the state received any sort of passenger rail service, whether it came from Amtrak or not. In its 2015 State Rail Plan, Minnesota lists a possible passenger rail line from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls as a future project. Should that ever become a reality, South Dakota would lose access to STC grants.
Bilka said it’s not a matter of if but when passenger rail service will eventually come to the state. He said South Dakota is actually missing out now by not being a part of the numerous rounds of grants released recently by the federal government, which could also be used to help pay for freight railroad upgrades.
“I can understand the concerns about the STC grants, but they’re missing part of the larger picture. We actually might be losing more money that way than the meager, token amount we’re getting through the STC grant program,” Bilka said.
He also argued that the scope of the survey isn’t just to see how many more riders Amtrak can garner by expanding. One of the focus areas outlined in the survey is to reach more people in the United States living in rural or disconnected areas and allow them to consider taking rail as a mode of transportation rather than just by car.
Bilka said internationally, passenger rail doesn’t make a full return on investment, but neither do highways or airports, all of which drive economic activity.
“There’s very few passenger rail systems that ‘make a profit’ from farebox recovery. That’s true for Europe, that’s true for Asia,” Bilka said. “But it’s the economic vitality that it brings to the communities, similar to our highway network and our aviation network that neither of them don’t ‘pay for themselves.’”
Bilka said if there isn’t enough support for South Dakota to be added to Amtrak’s network, those funds would only go back to states that already have extensive networks. He said actions like the resolution passed by the Rapid City Council helps show that support, and he argued that money spent in South Dakota will go much farther towards meaningful growth than going back to more populated areas.
“I would, personally, would rather have some of that money come out our way than have it all get gobbled up by California and the Northeast Corridor. Let’s say if it is a billion or maybe two billion dollars to upgrade the line for the route across the state from the Twin Cities to Denver. That should not be a sticker amount we should be so adverse to at that point,” Bilka said. “Especially with what the [SDDOT] bringing up about the STC grants, I don’t think in the history of the STC grant program we’ve ever received anything close to that.”
MORE: Thune weighs in on Amtrak expansion to South Dakota
The final round of meetings the FRA plans for its study is due to take place near the end of next month, with a final report expected to come sometime in the middle of June. Along with that will come preferred routes, funding sources, and a cost and public benefit analysis.
Copyright 2024 KSFY. All rights reserved.
(SOUTH DAKOTA SEARCHLIGHT) – Democrats are running for 46 of South Dakota’s 105 legislative seats — leaving 56% of seats without a Democratic candidate.
That doesn’t bode well for the party ahead of November, said Michael Card, professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Dakota.
“It doesn’t put them in a position to actually put forward their ideological policy preferences and have much of a success at getting those enacted,” Card said.
In the state Senate alone, Democrats have failed to field a candidate for 22 seats, which is nearly two-thirds of the chamber. In the House, Democrats have failed to field a candidate for 38 seats, which is 54% of the chamber.
There is only one Democratic legislative primary in the state: a state Senate race in District 26, which includes the Rosebud Reservation.
There are no statewide Democratic primaries, after announced candidates for governor and U.S. House dropped out or failed to gather enough petition signatures to make the ballot, leaving one Democrat in each of those races.
Statewide candidates will have less name recognition than Republican candidates ahead of the general election, since they didn’t have primaries, Card said. In the Legislature, Card said Democrats “are guaranteeing they won’t get a majority.”
In contrast, Republicans have primary races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Five legislative districts do not have Republican primaries, but do have Republican candidates. There is a Republican candidate running for every legislative seat, except for one House seat in District 27, which includes the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Card said there are several factors leading to poor candidate turnout among Democrats, including a self-fulfilling cycle of failure.
“A lack of winning makes fewer people willing to take a chance on running for office,” Card said. “Why run if I think I’m going to lose?”
Democrats haven’t held a statewide office since 2015, and they haven’t held a majority of either legislative chamber since 1994.
Joe Zweifel, deputy executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said the organization worked “really, really hard” to convince Democrats to run for office.
“But you can’t force people to run for office,” said Zweifel, of Sioux Falls, who’s running for a legislative seat himself in District 12.
He’s heard the open seats called a “failure.” But he disagrees, choosing to focus on the Democrats who did step forward.
“We’re running quality, good candidates in those races,” Zweifel said.
The South Dakota Democratic Party hopes to build on legislative successes, such as a new law from Rep. Kadyn Wittman, D-Sioux Falls, that commits state funding to cover the family portion of reduced-price school meals.
“That specifically is a return on investment for our donors, and it shows that Democrats are doing good things for the people of South Dakota,” Zweifel said.
Wittman’s success helped inspire Democratic District 13 House of Representatives candidate Ali Rae Horsted, of Sioux Falls, to take a second run at the Legislature. Horsted ran unsuccessfully for the Senate against Sen. Sue Peterson in 2024, garnering 42% of the vote.
Horsted plans to build on that success and the name recognition she already has in the district. She hopes she’ll have “better odds” in this election, since there are two House seats for every district.
Horsted said it would better serve South Dakota if the state had a more balanced Legislature. While the latest Legislature was 92% Republican, 52% of voters in South Dakota are Republican. South Dakota has the lowest percentage of Democrats, 7.6%, in the Legislature nationwide.
“I think it’s important that people have options on the ballot,” Horsted said, “and people are able to vote for candidates that represent their values and their vision for the future of South Dakota.”
Makenzie Huber is a lifelong South Dakotan who regularly reports on the intersection of politics and policy with health, education, social services and Indigenous affairs. Her work with South Dakota Searchlight earned her the title of South Dakota’s Outstanding Young Journalist in 2024, and she was a 2024 finalist for the national Livingston Awards.
South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
From East River to West River, South Dakota communities share a common goal: creating places where people of all ages can live, work and thrive. AARP’s Domains of Livability provide a framework to help communities do just that. Through the AARP Community Challenge grant program—designed to spark quick, impactful local projects—South Dakota communities are turning big ideas into visible, people-centered improvements.
Read the South Dakota Community Challenge Grant Report, which showcases grant-funded projects across the state designed to build more livable communities.
What Are AARP’s Domains of Livability?
AARP’s approach to livable communities is rooted in eight interconnected domains that together support quality of life at every age:
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings – Safe, accessible parks, streets and public buildings
- Transportation – Affordable, accessible options for getting around
- Housing – A range of choices that support independence
- Social Participation – Opportunities to connect, learn and have fun
- Respect and Social Inclusion – Communities that value people of all backgrounds and ages
- Civic Participation and Employment – Meaningful ways to engage and contribute
- Communication and Information – Clear, accessible ways to stay informed
- Community Support and Health Services – Access to services that support well-being
These domains work best when addressed together—something South Dakota communities are embracing.
Turning Vision into Action with Community Challenge Grants
AARP Community Challenge grants fund short-term, “quick-action” projects that can ignite long-term change. Across South Dakota, these grants have helped communities pilot ideas, build momentum and demonstrate what’s possible when residents put people first.
Here’s how local projects are bringing the Domains of Livability to life:
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: Communities have used grants to enhance parks, create pop-up public spaces, add benches and shade and install wayfinding signs. These improvements invite people to linger, gather, and enjoy shared spaces—supporting both physical activity and social connection.
- Transportation: Small, thoughtful transportation projects can make a big difference. Community Challenge grants have supported safer crossings, improved walkability and bikeability around key destinations and the planning or installation of transit amenities like shelters and seating—especially important for older adults and people with mobility challenges.
- Housing and Community Support: Some projects focus on helping residents age in place by improving access to information about home modification resources or by testing neighborhood-level solutions that connect people to services. These efforts strengthen independence and peace of mind.
- Social Participation and Inclusion: Murals, community events and creative placemaking projects funded by AARP grants have sparked community pride and social connection. By involving residents in design and implementation, these projects foster respect, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging across generations.
- Communication, Civic Participation and Opportunity: From hosting community conversations to creating new tools for sharing local information, South Dakota communities are using grants to engage residents in shaping their future. These efforts elevate local voices and encourage ongoing civic participation.
Vermillion is a college town built around a historic Main Street with an urban feel. With the University of South Dakota just about a mile away, the stretch stands apart for its youthful energy and academic culture. Best explored on foot, Main Street pairs 19th-century brick storefronts with stops like Café Brulé and the nostalgic Coyote Twin Theater. Murals and sculptures add pops of color to the town center, including works from Mural on the Wall and the Mirrored Medicine Wheel. Below are some of the downtown’s best highlights.
Walkable, Accessible, And Student-Friendly
Since most of downtown Vermillion is centered on Main Street, the district is compact and pleasant to stroll. Better yet, walking here from the University of South Dakota only takes about 20 minutes, making it accessible for students without cars. In recent years, the Vermillion Downtown Streetscape project has also enhanced pedestrian accessibility and safety. By implementing ramps, wider sidewalks, and well-placed crosswalks, navigating downtown Vermillion is easier and safer than ever.
Parking In Downtown Vermillion
Alongside its pedestrian-friendly improvements, the Vermillion Downtown Streetscape project made sure to maintain ample parking. Main Street and the first blocks along its north and south side streets offer plenty of free parking for locals and visitors alike. Removing the hassle of parking meters, you can explore downtown Vermillion without stressful time constraints.
Charming Architecture
With many buildings built between 1880 and 1942, history cements downtown Vermillion. Main Street stands out for its historic facades, where brick storefronts tell a story. After a fire destroyed much of the street in the late 19th century, a town ordinance banned wood-frame buildings from the district, explaining the streetscape we see today.
Some main street structures predate the infamous fire, like the present-day Dakota Brick House restaurant. Other brick landmarks were rebuilt in accordance with the ordinance, like the Classical Revival-style Clay County Courthouse, constructed between 1912 and 1913. Coupled with old-fashioned lampposts and weave-patterned pavement inspired by Main Street’s brick buildings, downtown Vermillion is a living time capsule.
Cool Cafes And Shops
Like all the best college towns, Vermillion is fueled by caffeine, a cafe-culture haven. Main Street W houses cozy places like Café Brulé, which specializes in “comfort food, decadent desserts, and espresso coffee drinks with classic hospitality.” A few doors down, The Bean Community Coffeehouse is a favored spot for students, serving everything from sweet cream cold brews to Italian cream sodas.
If you grab a to-go order, shopping is a great follow-up. The stores in downtown Vermillion reflect its diverse population, with something for every budget and vibe. Cash-strapped students and retro enthusiasts are drawn to spots like the Civic Council Thrift Store, but you can also find clothing boutiques like Blue Monarch. For your next read or a new board game, Outside of a Dog Books & Games is another cute and welcoming store to hunt for a souvenir.
Public Art
As you continue strolling downtown, Vermillion’s award-winning outdoor art is impossible to miss. Since 2017, the Vermillion Community Mural Project (now Mural On the Wall) has decked out downtown with colorful and meaningful installations. The massive artworks depict Indigenous themes, elements of local culture, and messages of inclusion, including the “It Gets Better: Vermillion Pride” installation outside Café Brulé.
Vermillion is also known for its SculptureWalk, installed by the Vermillion Cultural Association. Much like the downtown murals, these 6 sculptures breathe life into the district, depicting themes like resilience and family, along with Indigenous culture. The Mirrored Medicine Wheel is a striking example, situated at the corner of Main Street and Elm. Bear in mind, 2026 marks a rotation for the Sculpture Walk, meaning locals and visitors can expect to see a new set of sculptures sometime in the spring.
Dining, Entertainment, And Nightlife
In the evening, downtown Vermillion sees no signs of slowing down. Foodies flock to Cee Cee’s 605 Scratch Kitchen & Bar for happy hour cocktails and made-from-scratch dishes, while Native-owned Dez From The Rez serves cultural comfort foods with a modern twist. Afterward, Main Street’s Coyote Twin Theater is a great follow-up for new film releases and freshly popped popcorn.
Once night falls, Vermillion’s bar scene keeps downtown alive. On Main Street, Carey’s Bar has served locals and students since 1954. Nearby, the Main Street Pub is favored for its classic bar bites, while XIX (19) Brewing Company specializes in good beer, good company, and themed trivia nights.
Explore Towns Near Vermillion
There are countless cool towns to explore near Vermillion if you want to keep the good times rolling. 30 minutes southeast, North Sioux City offers an eclectic range of entertainment. During the day, visitors can enjoy NASCAR races at the Park Jefferson Speedway. Later, evening calls for gaming on “The Strip,” a two-block gambling district with spots like Beano & Sherry’s Casinos.
For outdoor fun, the town of Beresford is a gateway to Union Grove State Park. A 20-minute drive from Vermillion, Union Grove is home to serene tree-studded hillsides, making it a popular place to picnic, hike, or spend a night under the stars. Alternatively, 30 minutes west of Vermillion, Yankton is a blend of both towns. At Riverside Park, visitors can stroll, fish, and picnic along the Missouri River. Further inland, Broadway Ave is dotted with casinos like the South Point Gaming Lounge.
A Day In Downtown Vermillion
While it’s helpful to have an itinerary, exploring downtown Vermillion can be even better with a bit of curiosity and spontaneity. Tucked in between its top bars, murals, and cafes, you could find a hidden hangout locals love or a piece of public art not detailed online. That being said, Vermillion’s top-frequented restaurants and shops are popular for good reason, so don’t be afraid to follow the crowds. No matter where you start, go, and end, this South Dakota downtown is an absolute joy to walk through.
-
World5 minutes agoBulgaria votes in eighth election in five years
-
News35 minutes agoReal estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer
-
Detroit, MI3 hours agoFormer Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoEastbound I-80 closure in San Francisco snarls traffic, slows business
-
Videos3 hours agoCan Keir Starmer survive the latest Mandelson revelations? | BBC News
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoPetar Musa’s Brace Not Enough as FC Dallas Draws LA Galaxy 2-2
-
Miami, FL3 hours agoMLS: Messi double helps Inter Miami slay Rapids in front of huge crowd
-
Boston, MA3 hours agoFrom across Boston they flock to play for Latin Academy boys’ tennis, a co-op of 29 schools – The Boston Globe