WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Department of Transportation is joining Wichita's efforts to persuade Amtrak to run a passenger route through the city.
The transportation department says an initial planning study for expanded service is a good first step toward Amtrak expanding its rail service to Wichita on a route from Dallas to Oklahoma City.
The Wichita City Council has made funding more passenger rail studies a lobbying priority for the upcoming legislative session.
Transportation secretary Mike King is talking to Oklahoma officials who currently are more interested in a northeast route toward Tulsa.
The Wichita Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/108gNUj ) the next step is an environmental study, which would cost Kansas $3 million and Oklahoma $2.3 million without federal assistance.
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Information from: The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle, http://www.kansas.com
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