Garden City Commissioners are offering symbolic and financial support to help persuade Amtrak to keep running a route through southwest Kansas and southeast Colorado, rather than beginning an alternative route that would not stop in most of the region, including Hutchinson.

The Hutchinson City Council and Reno County Commissioners may be ready to do the same. City manager John Deardoff brought up the subject of funding lobbying efforts to keep the Amtrak train running its current route during Tuesday’s council meeting.

County Administrator Gary Meaghr says he will bring the matter before the County Commission next week.

Garden City commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution asking Amtrak to maintain the Southwest Chief’s route between Chicago and Los Angeles, which also passes through Topeka, Newton, Dodge City and Garden City. Lamar and La Junta, Colo., have adopted resolutions similar to Garden City’s. The commission also approved spending up to $20,000 to help pay for federal lobbying efforts to keep the current route. Hutchinson City Council members may take action to do the same at their next meeting.

Amtrak is considering an alternative route that would run south of Newton through the Texas Panhandle to New Mexico, citing conflicts with BNSF Railway over the condition of the tracks Amtrak uses in Kansas.

Marc Magliari, a spokesman from Amtrak’s Chicago office says Amtrak has no plans to move and no desire to move. Magliari said symbolic support from communities such as Garden City is “helpful,” as Amtrak continues to negotiate with BNSF and state agencies such as the Kansas Department of Transportation and Colorado Department of Transportation. The 20-thouand dollar expense would help pay expenses for a Southwest Kansas Coalition, made up of officials from Dodge City, Liberal and Garden City, to lobby on behalf of Amtrak.

*the Associated Press and the Garden City Telegram contributed to this story.