April 18, 2025 - TRA Newswire -

Heartland Flyer Extension gains ground while Texas hesitates on funding

TOPEKA, KS – In a bold move for regional mobility and economic development, Kansas has officially secured a future for expanded passenger rail service with the signing of Senate Bill 125 on April 10, 2025. The new law gives the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) unprecedented authority to support passenger rail initiatives, including the long-anticipated Heartland Flyer Extension north from Oklahoma City connecting with the Southwest Chief in Kansas, with stops in Edmond, Guthrie, Perry, Ponca City, Arkansas City, Wichita, and Newton.

This milestone puts Kansas on track to become a central connector in the Midwest Regional Rail System, positioning it for increased tourism, job growth, and transportation access. Yet as Kansas moves forward, Texas—one of the original anchors of the Heartland Flyer—may be stepping back.

State funding for the Heartland Flyer in in jeopardy as Texas lawmakers removed its yearly operating budget during the current session.

Conferees between the Texas House and Senate will decide in the next week or two if the train will be funded for the next two years. Studies show passenger rail connections generate more tax revenue than it costs to operate the train. 

If Texas lawmakers do not continue to fund the Heartland Flyer, it could have far-reaching consequences not only for the train’s current operations but for the economic and connectivity benefits it brings to the region.

A Tale of Two States: Investment vs. Withdrawal

While Kansas is committing $5 million in initial funds and as-needed access to the IKE Transportation Plan to accelerate planning and future operations, Texas is considering walking away from a proven transportation and economic asset. The contrast is stark, and the consequences will be severe.

According to the 2010 Texas Transportation Institute’s Heartland Flyer Study, the train’s operation returned more than $18 million in economic impact to the state annually through tourism, job support, and local spending – that’s a return on investment of 5:1. Cutting funding will cause Texas businesses to lose customers and revenue and cost the state tax dollars by forfeiting this economic engine, which could jeopardize any future federal investment in the corridor—especially as Kansas and Oklahoma double down on progress.

Missouri’s 2021 Amtrak Economic Impact Study further reinforces the benefits of sustained investment. Missouri saw $208 million in annual economic activity, generating $12M more in state tax revenue than it costs to operate the Missouri River Runner, an Amtrak-operated state-supported corridor. These figures are proven, not theoretical; they reflect real dollars, real jobs, and real mobility options.

Kansas Shows the Way Forward

The Heartland Flyer Extension is about more than just rail—it’s about people, it’s about access to medical centers, universities, airports, and economic opportunity. By expanding north through Kansas, the route could eventually link Texas to the full Midwest passenger rail grid, strengthening regional cooperation, generating regional economic growth and reducing highway congestion, especially on Interstate 35.

With this new legislation, Kansas is ready. The state now has the flexibility and resources to collaborate with neighboring states, including those in the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (whose member states collectively represent almost 70 million people), and to unlock federal grants tied to intercity rail development.

A Call to Action for Texas

“Kansas has stepped up, and the region will benefit,” said Deborah Fischer Stout, President of the Northern Flyer Alliance. “But for this corridor to thrive, Texas must not abandon a successful transportation link that also holds so much promise. Withdrawing support would be a self-inflicted wound to Texas’ budget and Texas’ businesses.”

The Northern Flyer Alliance urges Texas legislators and transportation leaders to reconsider. Maintaining and expanding the Heartland Flyer is not just about trains; it's about economic growth, competitiveness, sustainability, attracting students and talent, and keeping Texas and its businesses connected economically to 70 million consumers.

CONTACT Texas legislators and tell them to restore funding: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home?os=a&ref=app

Photo credit: Ken Fitzgerald