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Purchase of Rail Corridor could Potentially Link St. Louis and Kansas City

Ranj Niere
/
Flickr

  Jackson County and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority announced the $52 million purchase of a rail corridor from Lee's Summit to near the Truman Sports Complex.

The Kansas City Star reports that if the deal goes through, the new link would connect Kansas City with Missouri's cross-state Katy Trail, allowing cyclists to ride all the way to St. Louis. Commuter rail service could also access the corridor if financing is found for the project.

Under the agreement, Jackson County will borrow money to buy the rail corridor, but the transport agency will share in making debt payments totaling $2.8 million dollars annually for 30 years.

No tax increases are anticipated, officials said. And they hope the corridor will eventually produce revenue to help pay down the debt.

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