Groups are beginning to respond to what President Joe Biden would like to see in his new infrastructure plan.
Amtrak released a map with their plans to grow rail services across the country. The group's proposing more than 30 new routes, including one that goes from Chicago to Moline and even Iowa City. The original plans for the project included the college town but had since been dropped. State House Representative Mike Halpin says it's exciting to see the Quad City line included in their plans.
"I've been on the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission as the House Appointment for about three years now," he said Thursday, April 1st. "From out conversations with Amtrak, the Chicago to Quad Cities line has been on the top of their list, so I'm glad to see that be made public with a President that supports passenger rail."
Amtrak hopes to add more trips on 20 existing routes and extend services to 160 communities like Las Vegas, Nashville, and Phoenix. The U.S. Department of Transportation is extending the $177 million in funding it's giving to the project until December of 2024. Illinois is also providing $225 million in state funding through a recently passed capital bill for the project.
Amtrak hopes to make the additional services happen by 2035.