A live virtual meeting to update the public on the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Passenger Rail Service Development Plan Update will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
The live virtual meeting will take place via Zoom, and KDOT will provide a brief presentation in real-time. Participant can then ask questions or make comments, and KDOT will respond.
LIVE VIRTUAL MEETING
Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 1 to 2 p.m. CST.
After the meeting, the virtual open house will feature a recording of the live presentation, and an online comment form will be available.
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
Participants can click here to access the virtual open house 24/7 through Jan. 1, 2025.
KDOT is exploring plans to provide rail service from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Newton, where it would connect with the Southwest Chief, a national route on Amtrak’s passenger rail. The Heartland Flyer currently provides daily service between Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City.
The project kicked off in fall 2023, and the project team has spent the last several months analyzing many factors including stations and routing services, infrastructure, arrival/departure times and layover/connection times to determine if extending the rail service is feasible. The project builds upon efforts in 2011 when KDOT completed a rail feasibility study and established a Passenger Rail Service Development Plan (SDP), which outlined Amtrak Heartland Flyer rail service expansion into south central Kansas. Due to a growing federal interest in passenger rail services and potential funding sources, the project is now being re-evaluated.
If you have questions prior to the meeting, contact KDOT Public Information Officer Chief Cheryl Cadue at 785-296-6393 or Cheryl.Cadue@ks.gov.
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This information can be made available in alternative accessible formats upon request. For information about obtaining an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, 700 SW Harrison St., 2nd Fl West, Topeka, KS 66603-3745 or phone 785-296-3585 (Voice)/Hearing Impaired – 711.