Topeka — The Kansas House gave tentative approval Wednesday to a measure laying the foundation for expanded passenger rail service through the state.
The bill would establish a passenger rail program and fund within the Kansas Department of Transportation. It also authorizes the transportation secretary to enter agreements with Amtrak or other carriers to expand service through Kansas.
House members were expected to take final action on the bill Thursday.
Kansas is among several states working to expand Amtrak service in the Midwest. Supporters say the bill would help expand service from Kansas City to Dallas.
The legislation would enable KDOT to continue developing the passenger rail line and seek federal funds to establish the route.
KDOT officials scheduled a news conference for Thursday to release the findings of a feasibility study on expanding passenger rail routes. The study is expected to offer four alternatives and begin the process for identifying a preferred route and required infrastructure requirements.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
ralphralph (anonymous) says…
Rail subsidies.
A cure for State bankruptcy?
Hardly.
Good grief.
Adjourn and go home before we are even more broke.
july241983 (anonymous) says…
The bill doesn't actually provide any funding for rail.
http://www.kslegislature.org/fiscalno...
Axe2Grind (anonymous) says…
july241983 is exactly correct.
Further, the economic impact of this Amtrak route has already shown to be positive (3.2 to 1). Building a tax base with passenger rail can help pull Kansas out of its present fiscal woes. It is basic transportation. This study was performed by our own hometown Kansas Jayhawks.
No one is complaining about the state's highway expenditures. Simply put, the state of Kansas has overbuilt its road networks. Even the maintenance expenditures are not sustainable . This is why alternatives must be considered. The Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka route is ripe for some kind of real mass transit.
Centerville (anonymous) says…
So if the state has to figure out if it will be profitable, will the state also have to subsidize? If this is such a good deal, why aren't the railroads doing the research?
1029 (anonymous) says…
I was actually on the road once when one of those crossing arms all of a sudden lit up and came down to let a train by. I had to wait forever for the train to pass before I could continue on my way. I can only imagine what it would be like if there were trains all over the place backing up traffic. This will be one of the reasons that my vote will be for no more trains.
RalphReed (Ralph Reed) says…
I agree that road maintenance is through the roof. Trains are, in fact the way we should go, especially on the KC, Lawrence, Topeka (and points west) corridor. If we research, we could probably even find cars that would onload our POV and offload it at the other end - wouldn't that be great. (http://www.seat61.com/Motorail.htm)
I for one would like to see the at&sf bnsf reinvigorated. Perhaps even light rail from Topeka to Lawrence, to KC, with a spur going up through Leavenworth & on to Atchison.
What's wrong with that?
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
1029 is an idiot. Apparently he's never heard of a bridge or underpass.
bender (anonymous) says…
1029- passenger trains are very small compared to the 100 car freight trains that lumber through N. Lawrence and hold up traffic seemingly forever. The odds that you'd ever suffer the inconvenience of moving your right foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal due to a passenger train is small and if it did happen, your delay would be very brief.