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Yesterday, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued two records of decision for the National Environmental Policy Act analysis conducted for the Chicago-St. Louis high-speed rail corridor.

The FRA selected the Rock Island Corridor as the most efficient route between Joliet and Chicago, and chose a consolidated route along 10th Street through Springfield.

The approval will enable the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to apply for future federal funding for the project.

Since 2010, IDOT has received more than $1.4 billion in federal dollars to upgrade the Chicago-St. Louis corridor to accommodate 110 mph passenger trains. Upgrades are being made to track, equipment, signal systems and stations. IDOT hopes to eventually reduce travel time between the two cities to less than four hours.