By Rachel Mipro, Kansas Reflector
Wichita, which hasn’t had passenger train service since 1979, is set to be back on the rails.
An influx of federal infrastructure dollars will allow Kansas cities to join a long-running train route between Oklahoma and Texas.
The concept of expanded passenger rail service in Wichita and Newton has been promoted by Kansas Dept. of Transportation officials and railway enthusiasts for years, but lost steam because of scarce funding and low numbers of passengers.
Federal emphasis on railway infrastructure improvements has given the project the necessary funding for expansion. Gov. Laura Kelly announced Dec. 7 that $500,000 in federal funding has been allocated for the state’s proposal to extend Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer.
“In South Central Kansas and across the state, the call to renew this passenger rail route has been strong, unified and clear,” said Kansas Dept. of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “The result is another step forward in bringing this vital passenger rail line back into service.”
The plan will incorporate Wichita as a key stop along the route, a boost for the city that hasn’t had access to the national passenger rail network since 1979, when services were discontinued.
The daily Heartland Flyer Passenger Rail currently follows a 206-mile route, going from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth. Kansas is set to join this route with new city stops added to the rail service in both Kansas and Oklahoma. New locations will include Edmond, Perry, Ponca City, Arkansas City, Wichita, and Newton.
Funding for the project comes from the Corridor Identification and Development Program, created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law authorized $108 billion to support federal infrastructure programs, including bolstering U.S. passenger railway infrastructure.
The Oklahoma/Texas expansion is one of several railways chosen for upgrades. Nationwide, 15 existing rail routes have been given funding for upgrades, along with seven new high-speed rail projects, and 47 new routes given federal dollars to add or extend services.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican who voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, praised the use of federal funding to extend the Heartland Flyer. He said the move would open up travel and economic opportunities for the state.
