BonnerSprings.com

The city of Edwardsville sits in a location where major forms of transportation pass right across its doorsteps.

From Interstate 435, the Kansas River and the Union Pacific Railroad, the city has a number of transportation possibilities, one of which might see a big change in the foreseeable future.

During a work session prior to their regular meeting, City Council members met with a representative from the Northern Flyer Alliance, an inter-city passenger rail initiative working to extend Amtrak service between Oklahoma City and Kansas City, creating a direct line through Edwardsville.

"The public is recognizing for help with a balanced transportation system," said Mark Corriston, Kansas City director for the Northern Flyer Alliance group, emphasizing the rising fuel prices and the distance of a major airport from many Kansas communities.

Corriston said he was there to urge Council members to throw their support behind the grassroots railroad improvement effort, adding that clear benefits from a functional passenger rail system have been proven in other communities.

The Northern Flyer Alliance began two years ago when a gap from between Oklahoma City and Newton, Kan., was discovered in railroad lines. If that connection can be created, Corriston said people would then have a direct route on passenger trains from Dallas to Chicago.

"(Right now) we're left out of the national scene," Corriston said about the gaps in rail lines across the country that pass through Kansas. "But this is the opportunity to change that."

The alliance has been collecting resolutions from local governments in "corridor communities" across Kansas and Oklahoma pledging support for the program. As of Monday, 36 communities that have the potential to be included in the rail lines route have pledged support.

A key factor when planning routes and times, Corriston said, was ensuring the trains passed through almost all those pledged communities in the daytime. This would allow for economic growth from increased traffic.

Council member Chuck Adams, who spearheaded bringing the project to Edwardsville, said he hoped the community showed a "great amount of interest" in the project, especially considering the rates at which gas prices continue to rise.

"We have some great transportation routes through town and we need to take advantage of them," he said, adding that the increased development in western Wyandotte County including the Legends at Village West and Schlitterbahn water park were just a few more reasons a depot in Edwardsville made sense.

While Corriston said the cost of closing the rail line gap was still being determined, he cited several federal programs that may help including the Passenger Rail Improvement Reform Act and the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act. The alliance is also looking into refurbishing older rail cars instead of buying new ones in order to save money.

The goal for completion of the rail line is 2010 but the alliance has a long way to go before then. From completing the state rail plan to forming a bi-state rail pact to obtain state senate permissions, the alliance is hoping more communities will throw their support into the mix to help bring attention to the cause.

In a 4-0 vote, with Council member Patrick Isenhour absent, the Council approved a resolution of support for the alliance. Mayor William "Heinz" Rogers reminded the Council that the resolution was in no way a commitment, but support that could lead to great opportunities for Edwardsville in the future.

In other business, the council:

¢ Approved, 4-0, the minutes from the June 9 meeting.

¢ Approved, 4-0, the payment of bills totaling $128,780.73.

¢ Approved, 4-0, a resolution requesting a proclamation by the Governor to change Edwardsville from a city of the third class to a city of the second class.

¢ Approve, 4-0, to give $6,000 to the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce for the planning of Autumnfest.

¢ Approved, 4-0, the application of John McTaggart to open a fireworks stand starting July 1, at 10337 Kaw Drive.

¢ Approved, 4-0, the purchase of four in-car camera systems for police patrol vehicles at the cost of $16,000 and the refinancing of the 2007 lease agreement and the 2008 lease agreement for police vehicles.

¢ Approved, 4-0, the splitting of a lot at Medford Farms.

¢ Approved, 4-0, payment of $800 to cut weeds and indigenous grasses at 425, 515 and 525 River Falls Drive and the common area of the River Falls subdivision.

¢ Met in executive session for 20 minutes to discuss litigation issues.