On January 3, Amtrak cut services between Kansas City and St. Louis by half. Now only one round trip per day is offered, however, the Missouri Legislature has an opportunity to ensure passenger trains stay on track. The State of Missouri maintains the existing Missouri River Runner Amtrak service with state appropriations. An appropriation of $12.5 million this year would ensure twice-daily service to cities and towns across the state including St. Louis, Kirkwood, Washington, Herman, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Lee’s Summit, Warrensburg, Independence and Kansas City.
According to the 2021 State Freight and Rail Plan, Amtrak is delivering more than $208 million annually in economic activity including supporting 1,250 jobs and more than $22 million in annual tax revenues to the state. In addition, the Missouri River Runner plays a significant role in the state’s tourist economy. Riders spend an estimated $21 million on hotels and $25 million in food and sightseeing costs each year.
As with transit, Missouri has no dedicated funding source for passenger rail. Funding is subject to legislative general revenue appropriation each year, and this investment has not kept pace with inflation of the cost to operate the service. In FY 2021, MoDOT received $8 million in state support for the operation of the River Runner service. Before Jan. 3, four Amtrak passenger trains ran the Missouri River Runner route between Kansas City and St. Louis. Two trains would depart each city, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Federal law requires states to pay a share of certain Amtrak services. Missouri lawmakers can fund both routes this legislative session by supporting the $12.5 million request. Ensure passenger rail stays on track by reaching out to your Missouri representative or senator today.
Office | Name | Email Address |
Missouri House of Representatives District 66 | Marlene Terry | Marlene.Terry@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 76 | Marlon Anderson | Marlon.Anderson@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 77 | Kimberly-Ann Collins | KimberlyAnn.Collins@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 78 | Rasheen Aldridge | Rasheen.Aldridge@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 79 | LaKeySha Bosley | LaKeySha.Bosley@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 80 | Peter Merideth | Peter.Merideth@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 81 | Steve Butz | Steve.Butz@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 82 | Donna Baringer | Donna.Baringer@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 83 | Jo Doll | Jo.Doll@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 84 | Wiley Price | Wiley.Price@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 91 | Sarah Unsicker | Sarah.Unsicker@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 93 | Bridget Walsh Moore | Bridget.Walshmoore@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 67 | Neil Smith | Neil.Smith@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 68 | Jay Mosley | Jay.Mosley@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 69 | Gretchen Bangert | Gretchen.Bangert@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 70 | Paula Brown | Paula.Brown@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 71 | LaDonna Appelbaum | LaDonna.Appelbaum@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 72 | Doug Clemens | Doug.Clemens@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 73 | Raychel Proudie | Raychel.Proudie@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 74 | Mike Person | Mike.Person@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 75 | Alan Gray | Alan.Gray@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 85 | Kevin Windham Jr. | Kevin.Windhamjr@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 86 | Joe Adams | Joe.Adams@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 87 | Ian Mackey | Ian.Mackey@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 88 | Tracy McCreery | Tracy.McCreery@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 89 | Dean Plocher | Dean.Plocher@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 90 | Barbara Phifer | Barbara.Phifer@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 92 | Michael Burton | Michael.Burton@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 94 | Jim Murphy | Jim.Murphy@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 95 | Michael O’Donnell | Michael.ODonnell@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 96 | David Gregory | David.Gregory@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 97 | Mary Coleman | MaryElizabeth.Coleman@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 98 | Shamed Dogan | Shamed.Dogan@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 99 | Trish Gunby | Trish.Gunby@house.mo.gov |
Missouri House of Representatives District 100 | Derek Grier | Derek.Grier@house.mo.gov |
Missouri State Senate District 4 | Karla May | karla.may@senate.mo.gov |
Missouri State Senate District 5 | Steve Roberts | steve.roberts@senate.mo.gov |
Missouri State Senate District 1 | Doug Beck | doug.beck@senate.mo.gov |
Missouri State Senate District 13 | Angela Mosley | angela.mosley@senate.mo.gov |
Missouri State Senate District 14 | Brian Williams | brian.williams@senate.mo.gov |
Missouri State Senate District 15 | Andrew Koenig | andrew.koenig@senate.pu.gov |
Missouri State Senate District 24 | Jill Schupp | jill.schupp@senate.mo.gov |
Missouri State Senate District 26 | Dave Schatz | dave.schatz@senate.pu.gov |