(rshsdepot) Lawrence, KS

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

From the Lawrence Journal-World.
 
Original article at:
_http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/mar/25/depot-plan-moves-forward/_ 
(http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/mar/25/depot-plan-moves-forward/) 
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Depot plan moves forward
City to ask BNSF to transfer ownership

March 25, 2009
 
City commissioners on Tuesday agreed to renew efforts to gain ownership of  
the 1950s-era Santa Fe Depot in eastern Lawrence, despite lingering concerns  
about repair and renovation costs.
 
Commissioners at their weekly meeting agreed to send a letter to Burlington  
Northern Santa Fe Railway asking the company to make transferring ownership of 
 the depot to the city a high priority.
 
Commissioners moved ahead after hearing that the depot was important to  
future Amtrak passenger rail service in the area.
 
“I’m convinced this is a mode of transportation that we’re going to become  
more reliant on in the future,” City Commissioner Sue Hack said. “Lawrence 
needs  to be ahead of this. We shouldn’t have to play catch-up.”
 
Commissioners were told that the prospects of an additional Amtrak train  
running through the city were increasing as federal lawmakers approve new  
funding for rail transit as part of the federal stimulus package.
 
“I would say Amtrak fans are giddy at what is going on at the federal  level,”
 said Mark Corriston, Kansas City director of the Northern Flyer  Alliance, 
which is a group working to create a new Amtrak route from Kansas City  to 
Oklahoma City.
 
Area residents also have lobbied commissioners to take over ownership of  the 
depot building — located at Seventh and New Jersey streets — so that it can  
be properly preserved.
 
Commissioners are hoping that the railroad company will transfer ownership  
of the building over to the city for little or no cost. The city, if it takes  
ownership, could be obligated to make major repairs — including roof repairs —
  that total nearly $100,000. A larger issue is whether the city or Amtrak 
would  be responsible for up to $400,000 in costs to make the station accessible 
to  people with disabilities.
 
The city also has estimated annual maintenance and upkeep of the building  
could cost $60,000 per year. Currently, a volunteer citizen’s group has been  
doing much of the cleaning and general upkeep of the building.
 
City staff members said they don’t have a firm timeline on when the  railroad 
may respond. State leaders, though, are expected to complete a  feasibility 
study of whether to expand Amtrak service in the state by early  fall, 
Corriston said.
 
Commissioners agreed to send the letter on a 4-0 vote. Mayor Mike Dever was  
unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
 
In other business, commissioners:
 
• Heard that a a game plan is in the works at City Hall if Kansas  University’
s basketball team makes a deep run in the NCAA basketball  tournament.
 
The Lawrence Police Department has begun handing out fliers to downtown  bars 
and restaurants urging them to serve all beverages in plastic cups during  
future NCAA tournament games.
 
The flier states that “no bottles, glassware or cans will be tolerated on  
city streets and sidewalks. Violators will be prosecuted.”
 
Law enforcement leaders have concerns about large numbers of glass  
containers being taken onto the streets as part of post-game celebrations.
 
• Approved a new policy that governs how tax abatements and other  incentives 
can be offered to companies wanting to locate or expand in Lawrence.  The new 
policy requires that new companies would need to make at least $7  million 
investment and add 30 new jobs that pay a living wage before they would  be 
considered for a tax abatement.
 
• Expressed general support for a new policy that would give commissioners  
the option of buying goods and services from a local vendor even if the vendor  
wasn’t the lowest bidder. Commissioners asked staff members to bring back  
guidelines on when such a “local preference policy” would be appropriate to  
use.
 
**************Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220635228x1201407499/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doub
leclick.net%2Fclk%3B213153654%3B34689672%3Bo)

=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
To Unsubscribe: http://lists.railfan.net/rshsdepot-photo/unsub.html

------------------------------

End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1864
********************************

=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org