Partial funding for a passenger rail stop in De Soto has been approved by state lawmakers and is awaiting Gov. Mike Parson’s signature.
The legislators approved the state budget on May 10, which includes $1 million earmarked for the construction of a proposed train platform near De Soto Public Library where Amtrak’s Texas Eagle would make two stops a day.
State Rep. Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway, R-Festus, said she is hopeful the governor will approve the funding, adding that she planned to reach out to the governor’s office to let him know how important the funding is for the community.
She said the governor usually signs off on the budget bills before the rest of the bills.
Buchheit-Courtway said this is the second year she has been a part of a contingent requesting state funds for the De Soto train platform, but this is the third year funds were requested for it, to no avail.
However, this year was different, she said, because the city had permission from Amtrak to proceed with the project.
Buchheit-Courtway said the $1 million earmarked in the 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. But Buchheit-Courtway said the city may ask the Jefferson County Council for funds, and that money would be considered part of the 50/50 match.
Buchheit-Courtway said De Soto city leaders do not have a building design yet, but the estimated cost for the project is $1.7 million.
“I took the information to the budget chair and this is the game plan he came up with,” she said of the $1 million 50-50 match. “(State Sen. Elaine Gannon), R-De Soto, helped on the Senate side to keep (the funding) in the budget.”
Gannon did not return requests for comment.
De Soto City Manager Todd Melkus said he is anxiously awaiting the governor’s approval.
“The city is very grateful that the Amtrak funding allocation has been passed out of the House and Senate and is now to the final step of getting the approval from the governor,” he said. “Rep. Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway and Sen. Elaine Gannon were instrumental in assisting us in getting the request turned into the budget committee.
“And even though Rep. Ken Waller (R-Herculaneum) doesn’t represent our specific district, he has always been working and supporting our efforts for this as well.”
Last August, following a yearslong campaign led by Jim Thomas and a group of residents, Amtrak gave the green light for a new Texas Eagle railway stop to be built in De Soto. The Texas Eagle travels between Chicago and San Antonio and uses the Union Pacific railway, which passes through De Soto. The new train stop would be built across from De Soto Public Library, 712 S. Main St.
Melkus said conversations among De Soto city officials and Amtrak and Union Pacific have been advancing.
“Hopefully this funding will accelerate the process even more,” he said.
Buchheit-Courtway said she is excited about De Soto getting an Amtrak stop.
“I think it would be great for the community,” she said. “I would love to hop on a train and ride to Texas, and a lot of people don’t want to drive to St. Louis and park their car there (to ride the train).”
She acknowledged that the proposed stop times at 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. aren’t the most convenient, but she hopes another train line could be added in the future if the stop draws people in.
Buchheit-Courtway also said she hopes the train stop brings people who will stay the night in Jefferson County and check out the local shops and restaurants.
Thomas 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.
The closest train stations to De Soto are in Kirkwood, St. Louis and Arcadia, and De Soto city officials have said another stop in De Soto top would provide an “ideal transportation hub for over 100,000 residents to utilize.”