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On Sunday, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver will ride the “Iowa Unlimited” train around the state to raise awareness of key passenger-rail projects. Operated by Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd., the train will stop in Iowa City, West Liberty, Durant and Walcott, as well as Moline, Ill. — the future site of a Quad Cities’ passenger-rail depot.

The train will make its way to Chicago, where Culver will participate in the Midwest High Speed Rail Summit on July 27. The event aims to further efforts to make Chicago a regional passenger-rail hub, connected to lines running to communities in other states.

Culver expects to sign a memorandum of understanding with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on two proposed passenger-rail lines between Chicago and Dubuque and Iowa City. A long-term plan also calls for extending the Chicago-to-Iowa City route to Des Moines and Council Bluffs. Iowa and Illinois are working with Amtrak to advance the lines.

“Restoring passenger-rail service is one of [our] administration’s top transportation priorities,” said Culver in a prepared statement. “Reconnecting some of our largest cities to Chicago will add to Iowa’s economic success.”

Iowa has some funds set aside for passenger rail. On May 14, Culver signed the I-JOBS Initiative, an $830 million, three-year measure that provides $10 million for multi-modal transportation projects in Iowa, including $3 million for expanded passenger-rail service. The Iowa Department of Transportation also will be competing for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to help finance passenger-rail projects.