Thanks for the Rail, Florida

Illinois won an additional $454 million in federal high-speed rail funding.

The U.S. Department of Transportation this week announced its award of $268 million for the state to purchase 48 new passenger rail cars and seven locomotives. The announcement followed the award of $186 million last week to fund track improvements.

The funding comes from the allocation rejected by Florida. “Illinois will be able to use this funding to upgrade an important segment of the Chicago to St. Louis corridor,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

This week, the state also was awarded $210 million to fund track improvements for a high-speed rail line between Chicago and Detroit and for bridge replacements along the Chicago to St. Louis route.

Illinois last year received an award of $1.1 billion in fast-rail stimulus funds and then an additional $42 million from funds forfeited by Ohio and Wisconsin.

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Transportation industry
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