$200 million federal grant to connect Chi-town and the D by light rail

Michigan light rail advocates, rejoice — the Mitten state will receive $200 million in federal funds to build a new bus and train station in Ann Arbor, and also to create a high speed rail line that will shave 50 minutes off the Detroit-Chicago train route.

The bulk of the funds will improve the Dearborn-Kalamazoo rail corridor, which will eventually allow trains to travel at speeds up to 110 mph along the 235-mile route. The funds will also allow Michigan and six other states to purchase next-generation high-performance passenger rail cars. Leaders around the state are hailing the federal grant as an essential step to eventually utilizing light rail throughout the state.

Excerpt:

Michigan mass transit advocates also touted the announcement.

“Policy
and transportation planners have ranked the Detroit-to-Chicago corridor
as one of the most viable routes in the nation,” said Megan Owens,
executive director of Transportation Riders United. “Because of
Michigan’s existing infrastructure, we can do high-speed rail faster and
more cost-effectively than most other states. It just makes sense.”

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