Kansas Amtrak expansion narrowed to two routes

Written by Administrator

DRAFT PRESS RELEASE Transportation planners have narrowed their proposals for expanded Amtrak passenger rail service across Kansas to two possible routes, according to the Kansas Reporter. Depending on which route is chosen, if either of them is, transportation department officials estimate the service will require either $154 million for infrastructure and equipment costs, plus a potential $3.2-million annual operating subsidy paid by Kansas taxpayers, or $476 million for infrastructure and equipment, plus $8 million annually in state support.

However, those cost
estimates are extremely tentative. Officials are working on more detailed
business plans for both routes during the next 12 months to present to Kansas
legislators in the 2012 session, said Dennis Slimmer, a transportation
department spokesman.

At least one independent
study suggests the ultimate costs could be higher. Subsidyscope, a project of
the Pew Charitable Trusts, in November recalculated losses Amtrak reported on
its 44 lines across the U.S. and concluded that system-wide losses were as high
as $32 a passenger, four times larger than what Amtrak originally calculated.
The recalculated losses on lines closest to the expanded Kansas service ranged
between $26.76 and $169.90 per passenger.

Both routes identified are
among four plans for which federally-owned and railroad-supported Amtrak did
feasibility studies earlier this year to examine choices for rail service
between Kansas City and Fort Worth, Tex.

The cheaper of the two
proposed routes would provide nighttime service for what Amtrak estimates would
be 92,500 passengers a year between Newton, Kan., and Fort Worth, essentially
linking Amtrak’s Southwestern Chief, which passes through Newton on its
Chicago-Los Angeles run, to the Heartland Flyer, which runs from Oklahoma City
to Fort Worth.

The more expensive route
would offer daytime service between Kansas City and Fort Worth for a projected
174,000 passengers annually over the same general route, requiring more
equipment and additional improvements to track and facilities along the way.

Amtrak and industry
consultants projected in March that the lower cost Newton to Fort Worth
nighttime route would generate about $2.7 million operating revenues annually,
compared to $6.1 million annually that the daytime Kansas City to Fort Worth
service.

Kansas legislators in March
tentatively Okayed preparation of plans for potentially expanded passenger rail
service in the state, but declined to provide funding. Legislators and governors
in Kansas, Oklahoma and possibly Texas will need to approve final plans before
any expansion begins.

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