Transportation / Location

MARKET POTENTIAL

Kansas and Harvey County, with well-developed transportation networks, have long been recognized as a central distribution point for national markets.

Harvey County is located approximately 130 miles south-southeast of the geographic center of the continental United States and approximately 370 miles west of the geodesic center of the nation's population.

As the center of the U.S. population continues to move westward each year, Harvey County finds itself in a greater strategic position. With this geographical advantage, Harvey County has become an ideal location for firms serving national or regional markets.

Within 500 miles of Kansas is approximately 41 percent of the United States' population. Thus, for the company selling directly to the consumer market, within this radius is located more than $1.3 trillion in effective buying income (disposable personal income) available for the purchase of goods and services, which is about 40 percent of the effective buying income of the entire nation.

For companies selling directly to other businesses, within the same 500 mile radius is located more than 1.2 million manufacturing and service firms. These firms produce approximately $2 trillion worth of goods and services annually. With a per-firm average of almost $1.6 million in shipments or receipts annually, the area surrounding Harvey County and Kansas is a land of opportunity for the sale and shipment of goods.

HIGHWAY ACCESS

Motor carriers in Kansas travel a highly developed system of interstate highways, primary roads and secondary roads. There are nearly 9,000 highway miles in the state, over 870 miles of which are interstate quality four-lanes. Kansas ranks third in the nation with only Texas and California having more total road mileage.

Each city in Harvey County is located at or near both of the major highway transportation routes which bisect the County. Serving the area are the four-lane, divided, north-south Interstate 135 and the two-lane, east-west U.S. Highway 50. The proximity of these highways to the cities in Harvey County follows.

PROXIMITY OF MAJOR HIGHWAYS

Interstate 70, which delivers access to the east and west coasts is located 50 miles north; and Interstate 35, which delivers access from the Mexican border to Duluth, Minnesota is located 25 miles east of Harvey County.

The maximum gross weight allowable on the interstate highway system is 80,000 lbs. The corresponding maximum gross weight on the state's federal highways is 85,000 lbs. For both systems, the weight limitation on single axles is 20,000 lbs., and tandem axles are limited to 34,000 lbs. The maximum total length on a single truck is 42.5 ft.; on a semi-trailer the limit is 65 ft.

MOTOR FREIGHT - CARRIERS

Seven trucking firms operate from their locations in Harvey County, providing both independent contract and common carrier utility; and interstate and intrastate service.

Nearby Wichita is where 39 additional trucking firms are located (including 13 national interstate carriers with terminal facilities), more than a dozen of which provide daily service to Harvey County. Further, at least a dozen more motor carriers, operating from other locations such as Hutchinson, serve the Harvey County area.

Currently, the price for truck transport is favorable. Freight rates are believed to be negotiable to less than the national average, because presently, more truck-carried freight is being imported and consumed than is being exported from the area. Trucking firms serving Harvey County are highly competitive in bidding freight out of the area to avoid as many empty back-haul miles as possible.

A major truck repair and service center is located in the City of Newton at the junction of Interstate 135 and U.S. Highway 50.

RAILROADS

Kansas has the sixth largest rail system in the nation with nearly 7,000 miles of tracks, or approximately four percent of all U.S. railroad miles.

Three railroads serve industrial areas in Harvey County. Since the countless tons of grain grown here have mandated a comprehensive rail system, freight service is available from at least one of the railroads in each of Harvey County's communities.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway serves the County with a minimum of eleven trains daily. Union Pacific Railroad serves Harvey County with three trains each day. The Burlington Northern Railroad, which serves a small portion of western Harvey County, provides weekly train service.

Harvey County businesses take advantage of a reciprocal switching agreement between Santa Fe and Union Pacific in Newton, where the rail lines intersect. Located in Kansas City, 168 miles to the northeast, is a trailer-on-flat-car (TOFC) and container-on-flat-car (COFC) or "piggy-back" rail loading and unloading facility. Another piggy-back facility is available in Oklahoma City, 187 miles to the south.

Passenger Service:

AMTRAK passenger service is available in Harvey County with two trains daily on the Chicago to Los Angeles route. The depot, which is located at the corner of Fifth and Main in Newton, is a full service depot including ticket sales and checked baggage service, as well as a handicapped accessible platform.

FREIGHT: TIME IN TRANSIT

AIR TRANSPORTATION

Commercial Air Transportation:

Scheduled air service is available at the Wichita Mid Continent Airport. Mid Continent is located 25 miles south of the Harvey County line via I-135 and I-235.

Twelve airlines (five major carriers and seven regional carriers) provide service in and out of the airport. There are 51 daily departures from Wichita non-stop to 11 cities.

MID CONTINENT AIRPORT: Departures

In 1996, 714,217 passengers departed from Mid Continent Airport.

The Wichita Airport Authority, an administrative body created by the City of Wichita, owns and operates the 3,500 acre facility. Mid Continent houses many tenants including the Federal Aviation Administration offices. Over $20.2 million in airport improvements were completed in 1988 including $5.5 million for a facelift of the terminal building.

Air Cargo:

Nine air freight companies plus nine freight forwarders (in addition to the major airlines) maintain service out of Wichita's Mid Continent Airport. There is also a U.S. Customs Office and Post Office located on the grounds.

MAJOR AIR FREIGHT FIRMS

In 1996, 39,742 tons of freight and 3,450 tons of air mail moved through Mid Continent Airport.

Private Air Transportation:

Facilities for private aircraft are available at the Newton City-County Airport, located within three miles of Newton. The airport, which is jointly owned by Harvey County and Newton, is managed by the City of Newton.

Two paved, fully lighted runways (7,002 feet and 3,500 feet) are available at the Newton City-County Airport. The pavement strengths are 135,000 pounds on the 7,002 foot runway and 12,000 pounds on the 3,500 foot runway. The length and pavement strength of the longer runway can accommodate the landing of a 747.

Also featured is an automated weather observation system which was installed in 1989; and an instrument landing system which functions 24 hours a day. The Newton City-County airport is an official reliever for the Wichita Mid Continent Airport. Air traffic is visible on Wichita Mid Continent flight controllers' radar screens.

FOREIGN TRADE ZONE

In Wichita, a Foreign Trade Zone provides duty free and quota free entry of foreign goods into the country. The Wichita Zone encompasses 280 acres and includes 80,000 square feet of covered space above ground.

Goods brought into a Zone may be stored, manipulated or mixed with domestic or foreign materials used in manufacturing processes or exhibited for sale. Anything shipped out of a Zone into the United States Customs' territory is then subject to U.S. Customs duties.

PORT OF ENTRY SERVICE

Also located in Wichita, this customs inspection port enables companies to import or export merchandise directly from Harvey County and Central Kansas without lengthy delays and backlogs such as the ones found at U.S. coastal ports. Imported parts, raw materials or merchandise can be loaded directly to rail transportation; marked for Wichita, Kansas inspection; and moved, generally in 24 hours, on to Harvey County.

BUS SERVICE

Inter-city bus service for Harvey County is provided by the Hutchinson Shuttle Service. Passengers may board, by reservation, in either Newton or Halstead with destinations of Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita Bus Station, or Hutchinson Bus Station. Bus stops are located at 414 N. Main in Newton and 328 Poplar in Halstead.

PARCEL DELIVERY

Parcel delivery, including overnight service, is available in Harvey County through Express Mail (U.S. Postal Service), Federal Express and United Parcel Service. Several parcel delivery firms in Wichita, including Emery Worldwide, also provide service to the Harvey County area.

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