Transportation
Joplin is served by the mainline of the Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad, as well as by branchlines of the BNSF Railway and Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA). The city was once a beehive of railroad activity; however, many of the original railroad lines serving Joplin were abandoned after the demise of the mining and industrial enterprises. Passenger trains have not served the city since the 1960s. The city's Union Depot is still intact along the KCS mainline and efforts are underway to restore it.
Interstate 44 connects Joplin with Springfield and St. Louis to the east and Tulsa and Oklahoma City to the west. U.S. Route 71 runs east of the city, connecting Joplin to Kansas City to the north and Ft. Smith, AR to the south. Highway 71 is currently being converted to Interstate 49 and is expected to be completed by 2012. The highway is already built to four-lane freeway and expressway standards from Kansas City but has a few at grade intersections that need to be upgraded to interstate standards.
Joplin once boasted an extensive trolley and inter-urban rail system. Today, part of the city is served by the Sunshine Lamp Trolley, which commenced service in July 2007, and expanded to 3 routes in 2009.
In addition, the Joplin Regional Airport provides multiple daily roundtrip flights to Dallas/Fort Worth operated by American Eagle Airlines.
Read more about this topic: Joplin, Missouri