Funding Approved for High-Speed Train From Chicago to Detroit
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Nov 22, 2011 11:00PM
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $150 million in federal funding to create a high-speed train service between Detroit and Chicago. The new line will decrease travel time by about 30 minutes by allowing for speeds up to 110 mph. Plus, the project will add about 800 new jobs to the area for the Michigan Department of Transportation. The news release from the DOT states:
The grant will enable MDOT to acquire ownership over much of the Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac High Speed Rail Corridor within the State of Michigan and pave the way for them to begin a track and signal improvement project between Detroit and Kalamazoo, MI, in the spring of 2012.
Congress hasn't approved rail funding for 2012, but this money was dug out of previous appropriations. Sadly it won't help the traffic for this Thanksgiving, but for Chicago's many ex-Michiganders, hopefully your future Thankgiving pilgrimages will be slightly shorter.