IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION urging Missouri's House and Senate Budget Committees to restore full funding of the $4.95 million recommended by the Governor in the State's proposed budget for fiscal year 1999 for Amtrak's St. Louis-Kansas City train service.
Intro
RESOLUTION # 12064, March 2, 1998
INTRODUCED BY Victor E. Callahan and John C. Graham, County Legislators
WHEREAS, in 1995 Amtrak announced its plans to eliminate the passenger rail route between Kansas City and St. Louis as part of a nationwide cutback in services and jobs due to financial losses; and,
WHEREAS, cities and towns affected by this decision included Kansas City, St. Louis, Independence, Lee's Summit, Warrensburg, Sedalia, Jefferson City, Hermann, and Kirkwood; and,
WHEREAS, through federal and state funding and through efforts of Amtrak, the Missouri Department of Transportation, communities along the route, MOKSRail, and others, great strides have been made to keep this vital transportation route open; and,
WHEREAS, rebuilding has been a slow process but growth has increased steadily since 1995; and,
WHEREAS, Amtrak continues to provide 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, for the fiscal year 1999, Amtrak and Missouri Department of Transportation have agreed upon Gov. Callahan's recommendation of $4.95 million in state support, an increase from $3.6 million for fiscal year 1998; and,
WHEREAS, on February 9 the House General Administration Appropriations Committee recommended a sharp reduction from $4.95 million to $3.6 million; and,
WHEREAS, because federal assistance continues to decline for Amtrak, the Legislature believes the recommendation by the House ...
Click here for full text