ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) — The resolution to support the Amtrak Passenger Rail Expansion in the city of Rock Springs and Southwest Wyoming was approved at the Rock Springs City Council meeting on Oct. 5.

Amtrak, a passenger railroad service, provides medium and long-distance inter-city rail service in the contiguous United States and to nine cities in Canada.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to bring back passenger rail service,” Rock Springs Mayor Tim Kaumo said.

Kaumo said that it will benefit businesses and will “help stir up activity and sales tax generation.”

The resolution details additional benefits of the Amtrak expansion like connecting major cities to smaller communities, providing alternate transportation options in areas without city bus services and providing a mode of transportation that is three times more efficient in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traveling by car.

For those having to travel long distances, like students, Kaumo said that the reintroduction of Amtrak into the area would be immensely beneficial to them.

“If you’re traveling back and forth from Salt Lake or Laramie for school, this could be a whole lot easier than driving on the interstate,” Kaumo said. ‘We know that very often the interstate gets shut down in the wintertime. For students to be able to jump on a train and travel back to Rock Springs safely would be great.”