Missouri transportation officials seek federal aid for expansion of Amtrak

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Missouri transportation officials seek federal aid for expansion of Amtrak

Kurt Erickson Oct 10, 2023



Federal funding could be used next year to add another daily round-trip option on Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner between St. Louis and Kansas City.

Amtrak

JEFFERSON CITY — State transportation officials are asking for $76 million in federal funding to expand passenger rail service in Missouri.

In documents submitted earlier this month to Gov. Mike Parson, the Missouri Department of Transportation wants the Republican governor to include the financial request in his January budget proposal as a way to add another daily round-trip option on Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner between St. Louis and Kansas City. ... Currently, Amtrak offers two round trips on the 285-mile stretch linking Missouri’s largest metropolitan areas.

The money also would add new Amtrak service in Missouri between Kansas City and Springfield, and Kansas City and St. Joseph. The plan also calls for extending the existing Chicago-Quincy, Illinois, service to Hannibal.

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In 2021, Amtrak one of the daily trips between St. Louis and Kansas City was cut in response to a lack of funding from the state. ... Ridership on the line was affected by the pandemic and, in 2019, by flooding on the Missouri River. ... Typically, an estimated 170,000 people ride the route, but service cuts and COVID-19 restrictions reduced that number to about 86,000 in 2020 and another 77,200 in 2021.

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Kurt Erickson • 573-556-6181 [e-mail]

[atreides1]

1. WTF????