The Missouri application is seeking funding for a variety of immediate projects that will include new sidings, mainlines, bridges, removal of grade crossings, train cars, and other equipment and infrastructure to enable Amtrak trains traveling between St. Louis and Kansas City to travel at greater speeds than they currently do, with greater schedule reliability. Train service also would be enhanced by improvements to the station at Jefferson City. The longer-term planning money would fund preliminary design, engineering and preparation for the building of a true high-speed rail line between the two cities.

If granted, about $373 million of the federal funds would be used in the immediate future for significant improvements and upgrades to rail equipment and infrastructure and would complement the high-speed rail project already underway in the St. Louis to Chicago corridor. Another $600 million would be used over the longer term to complete necessary planning and design for building the separate, dedicated high-speed line across Missouri and for purchasing necessary properties.

For the past two years, Gov. Nixon has been working cooperatively with the state of Illinois on pursuing funds for development of the St. Louis to Chicago high-speed rail corridor; in addition, Missouri also has already received $32 million in federal funding for improvements to the St. Louis to Kansas City corridor.
million of the federal funds would be used in the immediate future for significant improvements and upgrades to rail equipment and infrastructure and would complement the high-speed rail project already underway in the St. Louis to Chicago corridor. Another $600 million would be used over the longer term to complete necessary planning and design for building the separate, dedicated high-speed line across Missouri and for purchasing necessary properties.

For the past two years, Gov. Nixon has been working cooperatively with the state of Illinois on pursuing funds for development of the St. Louis to Chicago high-speed rail corridor; in addition, Missouri also has already received $32 million in federal funding for improvements to the St. Louis to Kansas City corridor.