SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1716
A RESOLUTION supporting the full development, funding and implementation of the Heartland Flyer
Extension between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Newton, Kansas.

WHEREAS, The Kansas Secretary of Transportation, Julie Lorenz, presented to the 2021
Passenger Rail Coalition her discussion with Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation, Tim Gatz, about
both Kansas and Oklahoma's desire to have Amtrak's Heartland Flyer route extended north, through
Oklahoma and Kansas, which, however, would require federal funding for both states to develop the
passenger rail corridor; and
WHEREAS, At the Passenger Rail Coalition Forum held on February 10, 2021, Amtrak presented
a proposal for the state of Kansas to request 100% federal funding for the Heartland Flyer Extension
capital costs, as well as three to five years of operational costs, through the federal reauthorization of the
Surface Transportation Act; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak has approached the state of Kansas about entering into a multi-state
operational partnership for extending the Heartland Flyer, with connecting service between Amtrak's
Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak has received a Reauthorization Act request from the Midwest Interstate
Passenger Rail Commission concerning the incorporation of additional frequencies and a second train for
this corridor, specifically, a daytime frequency that will operate between Fort Worth, Texas, and Kansas
City, Missouri; and
WHEREAS, The Kansas Passenger Rail Service Development Plan of 2010 includes an option for
additional frequencies and a second train, known as Alternative #3, to transit within the Heartland Flyer
and Southwest Chief corridors; and
WHEREAS, An accompanying improvement of ridership and financial performance would be
realized by an extension and second frequency of the Heartland Flyer; and
WHEREAS, The Amtrak Southwest Chief and Sunset Limited routes would realize a dramatic
increase in ridership and financial performance from a two-frequency Heartland Flyer connection with
hubs in Newton, Kansas, and Fort Worth, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Ridership on the Heartland Flyer Extension from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to
Newton, Kansas, is anticipated to double when connected with the Southwest Chief in Newton, Kansas;
and
WHEREAS, Fully-funded maintenance of the Southwest Chief is an integral and vital component
of the Heartland Flyer Extension; and
WHEREAS, The Kansas Department of Transportation identifies passenger rail development in
the State Rail Plan; and
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we support and endorse the extension of
Amtrak service between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Newton, Kansas; and
Be it further resolved: That we urge the Kansas Congressional delegation to support the inclusion
of full federal funding for the complete implementation and development of the Heartland Flyer
Extension from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Newton, Kansas, as well as a second frequency directly
connecting Kansas City, Missouri, and Fort Worth, Texas, in the upcoming reauthorization of the Surface
Transportation Act; and
Be it further resolved: That we urge the Kansas Congressional delegation to support the inclusion
of full federal funding for the maintenance and future development of the Southwest Chief in the
upcoming reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act; and
Be it further resolved: That we approve a multi-state partnership among Amtrak and the several
states through which the service will operate; and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate shall send enrolled copies of this resolution
to the Governor of Kansas, the Governor of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation, the
Kansas Secretary of Transportation, each member of the Kansas Congressional delegation and the U.S.
Secretary of Transportation.
Senate Resolution No. 1716 was sponsored by Senator Carolyn McGinn.
I hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the SENATE, and was adopted by that body
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President of the Senate.
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Secretary of the Senate.