ERIN MCDANIEL
City of Newton
NEWTON, Kan. — As part of this week's Newton City Commission meeting, commissioners received an update on the depot in town.
The depot is still listed for sale for $1.5 million. The depot’s owner has received feedback that the listing price may be prohibitive given the repair work needed on the building. The listing agent has been advocating for City involvement in the sale, but City staff has recommended the City continue to monitor and offer support to potential private sector buyers.
Amtrak is moving forward with plans to reconstruct the depot’s deck/platform to improve lighting, safety and accessibility in the next 1-2 years. The project will not reduce parking at the depot or at City Hall, although portions of the City Hall lot may be used temporarily as a staging area during construction.
The Kansas Department of Transportation is also moving forward with planning for the Heartland Flyer extension, which would connect Newton with Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.