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Passenger Service Critical to Missouri’s Bottom Line; Legislature has Opportunity to Ensure Trains Continue to Move Missouri Twice Daily

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

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