Could Amtrak be on track to make it to South Dakota in the future?

It's starting to look that way.

Dakota News Now reports that a resolution supporting an Amtrak expansion to South Dakota is moving into the state senate.

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If approved the the Federal Railroad Administration would be greenlighted to build 15 new Amtrak routes, including two with stops in South Dakota.

Amtrak routes east of the Mississippi River stop every 40 miles and stops are every 60 to 70 miles west of the Mississippi.

I'm guessing Sioux Falls and Rapid City would be the two most likely Amtrak hubs in the state.

Dakota News Now reports that the bill unanimously passed in the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday, (February 26), after passing 49-21 in the South Dakota House of Representatives the week before.

Here's something I never knew, Amtrak currently operates in every state with the exception of two, South Dakota and Wyoming, and the state of Wyoming did have Amtrak services at one time. South Dakota never has.

South Dakota has been without passenger rail service in the state since 1969. At that time, trains made stops in Aberdeen, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.

One of Amtrak's big selling points to travelers is the fact that they have no middle seat. They boast how they can make travel easy, and comfortable because you'll always have a spacious and comfortable seat on the way to your destination.

As of right now, the closest Amtrak hub to Sioux Falls is in Omaha. South Dakotans wanting to utilize Amtrak services need to travel to either Omaha, the Twin Cities, or Fargo to hop a train.

What's the next step?

According to Dakota News Now, the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously concurred with the resolution, sending it to the Senate consent calendar for approval.

Source: Dakota News Now

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

Road Trip-Worthy Restaurants Within 90 Minutes of Sioux Falls

Veer off the beaten path. Take a road trip and try some favorite small-town eateries. Just by driving a few miles, you could find some delicious hidden gems.

From steaks to seafood, chislic to chicken, these are out-of-the-way unexpected finds that will make your taste buds tingle.

Here's a list of 16 Road Trip-Worthy Restaurants within 90 minutes of Sioux Falls.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

Filed Under: South Dakota