City commissioners on Tuesday agreed to renew efforts to gain ownership of the 1950s-era Santa Fe Depot in eastern Lawrence, despite lingering concerns about repair and renovation costs.

Commissioners at their weekly meeting agreed to send a letter to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway asking the company to make transferring ownership of the depot to the city a high priority.

Commissioners moved ahead after hearing that the depot was important to future Amtrak passenger rail service in the area.

“I’m convinced this is a mode of transportation that we’re going to become more reliant on in the future,” City Commissioner Sue Hack said. “Lawrence needs to be ahead of this. We shouldn’t have to play catch-up.”

Commissioners were told that the prospects of an additional Amtrak train running through the city were increasing as federal lawmakers approve new funding for rail transit as part of the federal stimulus package.

“I would say Amtrak fans are giddy at what is going on at the federal level,” said Mark Corriston, Kansas City director of the Northern Flyer Alliance, which is a group working to create a new Amtrak route from Kansas City to Oklahoma City.

Area residents also have lobbied commissioners to take over ownership of the depot building — located at Seventh and New Jersey streets — so that it can be properly preserved.

Commissioners are hoping that the railroad company will transfer ownership of the building over to the city for little or no cost. The city, if it takes ownership, could be obligated to make major repairs — including roof repairs — that total nearly $100,000. A larger issue is whether the city or Amtrak would be responsible for up to $400,000 in costs to make the station accessible to people with disabilities.

The city also has estimated annual maintenance and upkeep of the building could cost $60,000 per year. Currently, a volunteer citizen’s group has been doing much of the cleaning and general upkeep of the building.

City staff members said they don’t have a firm timeline on when the railroad may respond. State leaders, though, are expected to complete a feasibility study of whether to expand Amtrak service in the state by early fall, Corriston said.

Commissioners agreed to send the letter on a 4-0 vote. Mayor Mike Dever was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.

In other business, commissioners:

• Heard that a a game plan is in the works at City Hall if Kansas University’s basketball team makes a deep run in the NCAA basketball tournament.

The Lawrence Police Department has begun handing out fliers to downtown bars and restaurants urging them to serve all beverages in plastic cups during future NCAA tournament games.

The flier states that “no bottles, glassware or cans will be tolerated on city streets and sidewalks. Violators will be prosecuted.”

Law enforcement leaders have concerns about large numbers of glass containers being taken onto the streets as part of post-game celebrations.

• Approved a new policy that governs how tax abatements and other incentives can be offered to companies wanting to locate or expand in Lawrence. The new policy requires that new companies would need to make at least $7 million investment and add 30 new jobs that pay a living wage before they would be considered for a tax abatement.

• Expressed general support for a new policy that would give commissioners the option of buying goods and services from a local vendor even if the vendor wasn’t the lowest bidder. Commissioners asked staff members to bring back guidelines on when such a “local preference policy” would be appropriate to use.