IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION urging Missouri's congressional delegation to oppose Amtrak's plan to shut down the St. Louis - Kansas City train service.
Intro
RESOLUTION #10598, January 3, 1995
INTRODUCED BY Victor Callahan and John C. Graham, Sr.
County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, Amtrak recently announced its plans to eliminate the passenger rail route between Kansas City and St. Louis effective April 1, 1995, as part of a nationwide cutback in services and jobs due to financial losses; and,
WHEREAS, cities and towns affected by this decision include not only Kansas City and St. Louis, but Independence, Lee's Summit, Warrensburg, Sedalia, Jefferson City, Hermann, and Kirkwood; and,
WHEREAS, Amtrak currently provides an alternative mode of transportation and is utilized by many, including people not wanting to travel by cars, those choosing to travel by train rather than car on bad-weather days, elected officials traveling to and from Jefferson City, and college students without cars; and,
WHEREAS, Jackson County would suffer a great loss if the rail passenger service in Kansas City, Independence and Lee's Summit comes to a halt; and,
WHEREAS, a restoration group in Independence has recently raised part of the funds necessary to renovate the depot at 600 South Grand Avenue, and Amtrak's decision to eliminate this route will adversely affect the success of this effort; and,
WHEREAS, the Independence depot is of significant historical value, as in 1979 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, remembered most fondly as one of the locations for Harry S. Truman's whistlestop campaign in 1948, and for the huge gathering of people welcoming President Truman home after leaving the presidency in January of 1953; and,
WHEREAS, the recent restoration of the Lee's Summit depot with private donations was not only part of the city's plan to add to the small-town cha...
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