(The following story by Brent Winstrom appeared on The Wichita Eagle websit eon March 6.)
WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita City Council members said Tuesday that they probably would support a resolution to encourage the expansion of the Heartland Flyer passenger train route and a stop in Old Town.
The proposed route would extend an existing Amtrak line from Oklahoma City to Wichita and Kansas City.
Autumn Heithaus, executive director of the local rail travel advocacy group Northern Flyer Alliance, said the Old Town Association last week voiced strong support for a train stop in the city’s nightlife district.
“I think this is worth exploring,” council member Jim Skelton said Tuesday. “Sure sounds exciting to me.”
With the increasing cost of gas, alternative forms of transportation will be needed, he said.
Vice Mayor Sharon Fearey asked that city attorneys review the proposed resolution and present it to the council at its first meeting in April.
“We have a lot of people in the community that do take the train and drive up to Newton,” Fearey said, referring to a passenger train stop in Newton. “I just think it is something that could really enhance our city and have people coming in and out of here.”