The annual operation cost would be about $12.7 million, he said. Of that amount, Kansas would pay an estimated $5.9 million, Oklahoma, an estimated $5.3 million, and Texas an estimated $1.5 million. (The cost each state pays varies based on the number of route miles run in each state, Stair said.)

If a bill being considered by the U.S. Congress becomes law, the states could pay less. The Senate has already passed the bill.

"We are waiting for it to go through the house," he said. "It is veto-proof and if it passes it will make the (Heartland Flyer) project cost for the three states $2.6 million with a $10.1 federal match."

Cowley County Commissioner Dick Bonfy said after the presentation that he personally supports the proposed Amtrak expansion.

"I'm surprised how reasonable (costs) can be." He added that it would still cost a lot of money, but the cost seemed reasonable.

Stair said Amtrak is underfunded by the federal government so the states have been supporting the costs of Amtrak lines in various regions of the country.

Train ridership is becoming more popular, he said, in part because of rising oil prices. Motorists now pay $3 a gallon at the pump.

Once a rail center with passenger service, for the past 30 years Arkansas City has had only two transportation options -- "You can drive or you can drive to the airport," Stair said.

"Our transportation system has neglected smaller cities and towns," he said. "Many small towns have dried up because of lack of transportation."

But towns with Amtrak stops have increased economic development activity as well as more transportation choices and a better quality of life, he said.

Stair said Amtrak's positive economic effect is shown in Gainsville, Texas. That town renovated its old rail depot and made that area into a transportation center and shopping area.

"People came down in droves that used the train station," he said. "It also serves as a Greyhound station and stop for a shuttle buses that take people around town."

Another Oklahoma town that has benefited from being a stop on the Heartland Flyer is Purcell, population 2,000, the smallest on the route, he said. The town rallied behind an effort to get Amtrak to stop there and built a new depot, Stair said.

There has been $4 million in annual economic development generated in communities that are on the Heartland Flyer line, he said.

City Commissioner McDonald said he supported an Amtrak stop here for the same reasons given in Stair's presentation.

"The transportation part is good for people to get around," McDonald said. "There's also an economic development benefit. People will stop in town, shop and stay at hotels. It would be a boon to the town."