The January 17 issue of Springfield's Community Free Press featured this article by John Brayfield about rail service on its front page!
Amtrak studying proposed Springfield-St. Louis passenger service that would be a daily trip.
Can you hear that Jim Kunstler? http://www.kunstler.com
Springfield Missouri usually does and gets things years later than other small cities. Now it gets the oportunity to be one of the first in the nation to start switching to trains from oil guzzling cars and SUV's. How about that? I drive to St. Louis a lot and think this is just great.
More, as I have permission to quote as much of this article as I want here.
Imagine stepping on a train car in downtown Springfield, settling back in your seat, and watching the scenery pass by as someone else does the driving. ...You arrive at Union Sttion in St. Louis and ride the Metro-Link railroad to Busch Stadium, the zoo, Arch, or anywhere else.
If the Missouri Department of Transportation and Amtrak can persuade state legislatures to put the needs of the citizens before the wants of the oil barons and automakers, this dream could be a reality.
Amtrak passenger service between Springfield and St. Louis could bring a new transportation option to a growing portion of Missouri, lessen congestion on Interstate 44, and help save motorists from rising fuel costs, said Ron Massman, Administrator of Railroads for MoDOT.
The department, along with Amtrak, is exploring the possibility of one round trip daily between the two cities, with stops along the way in Lebanon, Rolla, Sullivan, and Kirkwood. The train would run on existing privately owned rail lines.
This proposal is in a study phase being completed by Amtrak, said Massman. They are in the process of doing a feasability study to determine if the potential number of riders warrants the cost of the service.
Go, Cardinals, go! Get going this year and speed it up!
Amtrak offers service between St. Louis and Kansas City. National Amtrak routes run between KC and northeast Missouri, as well as between St. Louis and Poplar Bluff. There is some rail service active between St. Louis and Springfield.
There is currently freight service between the two cities, but it really is not that much, and it would be a great opportunity to make use of these existing rail lines, said Massman. This part of the state has not seen passenger rail service in 40 years, said MoDOT multimodal oprations director Brian Weiler. The rail lines along this corridor are in good shape and aren't too congested, so riders can expect a smooth ride and on-time service.
Population and travel is way up in the Springfield-Branson and Fort Leonard Wood areas says Weiler. And with highways becoming more congested and fuel costs going up, more people than ever are looking for other ways to travel.
There are many details to be worked out, Weiler emphasized, including stations and crossings in the affected cities, availability of Amtrak equipment and of funding, which, according to Massman, could be the greatest hurdle.
Funding for the proposed rail line would have to come from Missouri's General Revenue Fund, and that is a finite amount with many interested parties requesting funds, said Massman.
There is no definite word as to the amount the project would cost or who would be responsible for the final decision-it could come to a vote of the public-has been released by MoDOT or Amtrak, but should be available following the studies being conducted by the rail service. Weiler thinks the expansion of rail service to southeast Missouri is at least two years away.
According to the link at http://www.kunstler.com Kunstler's January 22, 2007 front page, Huston To Get 18-Lane Freeway for 2.7 billion of state and federal money! A veritable dinosaur of a highway if there ever was one. And a rail option was killed to do it. So much for foward looking and visionary Houston, already an environmental disaster without it.
Meanwhile I am imagining commuter service to Springfield from Fordland, Diggins, Ozark, Nixa, and Mansfield (Laura Ingalls Wilder's home), McComb, Mt. Grove, Cabool and north to Houston and Licking to Rolla. All those cars that pour out of Seymour at 11 pm for the night shift and 4 am for the early shift in Springfield could all go by train at the rebuilt Seymour Station. There is a mural of it on the side of the building occupying the northeast corner of the square.
And we need to remember why it has been 40 years since we have had rail service. The auto lobbies effectively killed all alternative public transportation in the 50's in every city. I remember them tearing up the electric trolley tracks on the University of Pennsylvania campus around then.
Contact Roy Blunt, Claire McCaskill, http://bond.senate.gov for Kit Bond,Ike Skelton ,for starters.
Lead the way, Missouri. Stop being the show me state and be the I'll Show You State!