Gov. Mike Parson has signed off on partial funding for the proposed Amtrak stop in De Soto.
Parson approved the state budget on June 28, leaving intact the $1 million in funding state legislators earmarked for the construction of a proposed train platform near the De Soto Public Library where Amtrak’s Texas Eagle would make two stops a day.
De Soto City Manager Todd Melkus said he was pleased the governor kept the funds in the budget.
“We are ecstatic and extremely appreciative that the governor signed the bill and approved the funding,” he said. “We had a virtual meeting (on July 1) with Union Pacific representatives regarding the next steps of the process on our end.
“The city has a number of agreements to get approved with Union Pacific, and we have now been assigned a project manager. The goal in the near future is to research engineering and architectural firms that are familiar with Amtrak and Union Pacific to start designing the station.”
While the city doesn’t have a design for the platform, city officials have estimated the project will cost about $1.7 million.
“Once Union Pacific approves the feasibility study to determine the exact location that we are allowed to construct the station, at that point we can begin working on designs, as well as the numerous real estate leases and agreements that will be required,” Melkus said.
He said city officials believe there is only one ideal spot for the train platform and that is across from the De Soto Public Library, adding that Union Pacific has “preliminarily approved” the site but still has to give a final approval.
Melkus has said state Rep. Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway, R-Festus, and state Sen. Elaine Gannon, R-De Soto, have been instrumental in getting the funding included in the new state budget.
Buchheit-Courtway said she had no doubts the governor would keep the Amtrak stop funding in the budget.
“It’s good for the whole region,” she said. “The governor likes projects that are good for the whole region.”
She believes the stop, which Amtrak gave approval for in August, would bring travelers from all over the area. The closest train stations to De Soto are in Kirkwood, St. Louis and Arcadia, and De Soto city officials have said a stop in De Soto would provide an “ideal transportation hub for over 100,000 residents to utilize.”
Buchheit-Courtway has said the $1 million earmarked in the state budget would be a 50/50 match.
“It’s dollar for dollar,” she said. “The city has to put in what the state puts in.”
Earlier this year, the De Soto City Council approved a resolution that authorizes the city to provide a local match of up to $500,000 to help cover the cost to plan, design and build the Amtrak platform.
Buchheit-Courtway said the city could ask the Jefferson County Council for funds, and that money would be considered part of the city’s 50/50 match.
Melkus said he is sure the city will continue conversations with the county “in hopes of potentially receiving some additional funds for this project.”
Jim Thomas and a group of residents led a yearslong campaign to get an Amtrak stop in De Soto.
Amtrak’s Texas Eagle travels between Chicago and San Antonio and uses the Union Pacific railway, which passes through De Soto at about 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Thomas has said he’s working with Amtrak to start a new route called the Red Bird Express from St. Louis to Memphis, which would go through St. Louis, De Soto and Jonesboro, Ark., to Memphis.
He said he’s had positive talks with the mayor of Jonesboro, adding that Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas would have to get on board with the project.