Kansas Delivers Update on Heartland Flyer Extension

The Kansas Department of Transportation reported that it will cost a minimum of $311 million to extend Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer service from Oklahoma City, OK to Newton, KS.

Currently the train operates between Fort Worth, TX, and Oklahoma City, with five intermediate stops. In a public call held Wednesday, KDOT outlined a plan to extend the service north to Wichita with a new terminus in Newton, where passengers would be able to connect to the Southwest Chief.

“The full reconnection of this corridor, which was discontinued in 1979, will provide increased transportation choices and economic opportunity for rural and urban residents and businesses,” said Martin Alvarez, KDOT’s rail project coordinator.

The low-cost option, which would allow for top speeds of 55 mph (a 3.5-hour OKC-NEW trip time), would require $311 million in infrastructure upgrades to the BNSF-owned rail corridor, and could begin revenue service as early as 2029. KDOT also outlined a higher-performance option with top speeds of 79 mph, which would require an investment of $573 million in infrastructure upgrades.

Kansas has already allocated $5 million in development funds so far, and the state legislature will look to leverage local funding by applying for federal rail grants. Local officials applauded KDOT’s transparency with the public, saying a clear understanding of the timeline and the price tag will be essential for building political support for the project.

“It’s important we all understand, if you’re getting ready to talk to any of your legislators, that you have a grasp of what the actual costs might be,” said Pete Meitzner, a member of the Sedgwick County Commission in Kansas

The ability of states like Oklahoma to execute on these service development plans will be crucial for the long-term health of a national passenger rail program in the US. With Republicans set to take control of the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate early next year, it’s critical that members of Congress see Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding advancing projects in Red States and Blue States.