Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon last week announced plans to submit applications seeking nearly $1 billion in federal high-speed and intercity passenger rail funds.
The state will apply for $373 million of support to help finance the modernization of existing Amtrack service from St. Louis to Kansas City. The state will also apply for $600 million to help pay to design and buy land for a dedicated high-speed passenger line between the two cities.
“This is an exciting opportunity in terms of both transportation and economic development that we will not let go by,” Nixon said in a statement.
The application seeks funding made available after Florida rejected its award of $2.4 billion to develop a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando.