Monday, January 7, 2013

The Kansas Department of Transportation is joining Wichita's efforts to persuade Amtrak to run a passenger route through the city.

The transportation department says an initial planning study for expanded service is a good first step toward Amtrak expanding its rail service to Wichita on a route from Dallas to Oklahoma City.

The Wichita City Council has made funding more passenger rail studies a lobbying priority for the upcoming legislative session.

Transportation secretary Mike King is talking to Oklahoma officials who currently are more interested in a northeast route toward Tulsa.

The next step is an environmental study, which would cost Kansas $3 million and Oklahoma $2.3 million without federal assistance.