Oklahoma City ? Officials looking into extending Amtrak passenger rail service from Oklahoma City to Kansas say money is the biggest obstacle.

Lawmakers and transportation officials from Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas met Thursday in Oklahoma City as part of a study on the proposal being done between legislative sessions.

State Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, said extending the rail service would make the existing Heartland Flyer service from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, Texas, a more effective public transportation option.

But he said Oklahoma, still struggling to recover from an economic downturn, will have a hard time coming up with money to pay for its share of the route. And he said so far, few outside railroad buffs and residents along the proposed route are on board with the idea.

“When the public begins to vibrate on an issue, we jump into action,” Morrissette said. “And there’s no vibration on this issue.”

Morrissette estimated startup cost to extend service to Kansas City, Mo., at $479 million with an annual operating cost of $8.1 million. Another option would extend Amtrak to Newton, Kan., at a startup cost of about $156 million and annual operating expenses of $3.2 million. A plan on both routes is expected in about a year.

Kansas state Sen. Dick Kelsey, who introduced a measure that won passage this year to establish and implement a passenger rail service program, said Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas must work together to extend the Heartland Flyer line north.

Kansas legislators haven’t appropriated any money for Kelsey’s legislation because of the economic slowdown.

The Texas and Oklahoma transportation departments each pay about $2 million a year for the Heartland Flyer service. William Glavin, rail division director for the Texas Transportation Department, said that investment results in an $18 million economic return in passengers eating meals, staying at hotels and shopping.