Intriguing option

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 29, 2008

When it comes to travel convenience, Topekans are fortunate.

An international airport sits about 75 miles away on interstate highways, including a six-lane stretch of Kansas Turnpike.

Generally, there's no sweating it out in slow-moving traffic on the way to or from the airport.

Travelers in some areas of the country don't have it nearly so good. Long trips on congested highways, or regional flights to the nearest hub, are a fact of life for many.

Now comes a plan that could add to Topeka's convenient travel options.

The proposal would establish daily Amtrak service from Kansas City to Dallas on a route that would go through Topeka. Amtrak has proposed the project as one of several state-subsidized routes it is discussing in partnership with state government officials.

About 10 cities have gotten behind the project, including Lawrence and Emporia. The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced it would spend $150,000 to $200,000 to study the plan, which involves connecting Amtrak's Southwest Chief and Heartland Flyer routes through a new link between Newton and Oklahoma City.

The Southwest Chief runs between Chicago and Los Angeles with stops along a line from Kansas City through Garden City and west across the state line.

The Heartland Flyer operates daily between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.

A new link would give Topeka residents easy access to Dallas and even on to San Antonio, where connections may be made for trains traveling along the southern border to both coasts.

Proponents of the route say Topeka also might benefit from having a daily commuter train coming each day from Kansas City.

It's definitely an intriguing prospect, but it will need quite a bit more study before Topeka should jump aboard.

Among the key feasibility issues:

n Cost. A group of proponents, the Northern Flyer Alliance, estimates it will cost $12.7 million a year for operations and $6.5 million for track upgrades. Those costs, if determined to be accurate, will have to be weighed against ridership estimates and potential economic development for communities along the routes.

n Scheduling. Amtrak's current service to Topeka makes stops at 1:09 a.m. and 5:20 a.m., times when many travelers would prefer to be asleep.

n Delays. Amtrak shares railways with freight trains, which often causes delays.

Would Topekans embrace expanded train service? Some people certainly swear by rail travel, pointing out that trains offer roomy seating, a relaxed pace and a chance to see the scenery without being forced to pay attention to the highway.

Trains also are more fuel efficient than other modes of travel.

On the other hand, fast and fairly inexpensive travel options are readily available to Topekans.

Time will tell whether the project would be good for Topeka. But it's worth looking into.