WASHINGTON —U.S. Senator Jerry Moran on Friday announced a $500,000 Federal Railroad Administration grant to begin planning and development for an extension of Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer that will connect the existing rail service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth with Wichita and Newton, according to a media release from the senator's office.
The proposed extension would also include additional stops in Wichita, Newton and a new stop in Arkansas City.
“I have been working with local, state and federal leaders for several years to connect Kansas to the Heartland Flyer by rail,” said Sen. Moran. “Connecting communities across these three states will support new economic opportunities for businesses and provide a new means of travel along this busy route. I am pleased to see the first step in this corridor progress and look forward to seeing the project benefit Kansas and the region and look forward to continued dialogue with local stakeholders.”
Sen. Moran led a meeting in 2021 with Amtrak leaders, Kansas legislators and officials from Texas and Oklahoma to discuss the benefits of connecting the Heartland Flyer to Kansas.