Same news ... different source:
Newton Mayor Barth Hague has been advocating for the expansion of the Heartland Flyer, which if expanded could add a southbound train to the schedule at the Newton train station — connecting Newton to Wichita, Oklahoma City and the state of Texas.
To that end he attended a hearing of the Oklahoma Legislature Sept. 6, along with the mayor of Wichita, to discuss the extension of the train. The Oklahoma Legislature is looking at a study on an extension of the Heartland Flyer done by the state of Kansas.
“It was an opportunity for members of the Oklahoma House Committee to hear more about mass transit,” Hague said. ” ... Oklahoma struggles with the idea of ‘do we extend rail to Tulsa, or do we extend rail to Newton, Kansas?’ What most of the presenters were saying yesterday was ‘you should do both.’”
Hague met with the head of the Oklahoma Transportation Department and other staff, and left encouraged.
“At one time I would have said this will never happen in my lifetime. At this point it could actually happen in my lifetime,” Hague said. “Lets hope.”
...
The Kansan first reported on the efforts to extend the Heartland Flyer in 2008. In 2012 the Kansas Department of Transportation estimated the cost of improvements needed for the Newton route would be $87.5 million. The Kansas City route would cost about $245.5 million. The vision for the project includes a daytime passenger train that would travel from Dallas/Fort Worth to the Wichita/Newton area.
Those cost estimates have been adjusted since that time, and according to Hague, the plan is much more attainable. Kansas would have to fund about $2 million annually in addition to initial funding that has not been finalized.
“There is work to be done, but things are hopeful at this point,” Hague said.
Hague said he believes the next step for the Flyer is trying to get funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation. He told The Kansan he and others are looking at reforming a group that lobbied for the preservation of the Southwest Chief to support the expansion of the Flyer.
Hague said he believes the next step for the Flyer is trying to get funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation. He told The Kansan he and others are looking at reforming a group that lobbied for the preservation of the Southwest Chief to support the expansion of the Flyer.
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