NEWTON, Kan. — According to a message from Newton City Manager Kelly McElroy, on Jan. 30, Sen. Carolyn McGinn is hosting the annual Kansas Passenger Rail Coalition meeting in Topeka at the Capitol. The event will be attended by members of the Legislature.
The latest updates on long-distance passenger rail service will be given, as well as statements from FRA Administrator Amit Bose.
Updates to the 2012 feasibility study on the proposed Heartland Flyer Amtrak route were expected to be available in December 2022 but have been delayed.
The updated plan will be used by Transportation Departments of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas as part of a grant application for federal transportation dollars as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The funds would be utilized to improve the Heartland Flyer line that currently extends from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City. Expansion of the line from OKC through Wichita to Newton would then interconnect with the Southwest Chief.
Prior to the pandemic, the Chief line served approximately 340,000 customers annually. The Heartland Expansion is expected to draw an additional 100,000-120,000 riders through Newton annually. Grant applications are due on March 20.
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