Railway connecting Chicago to Columbus gets federal funding

CHICAGO, Ill. -- A railway project over a decade in the making is gaining steam in Fort Wayne as new funding for Amtrak passenger service between Chicago and Columbus was announced earlier this week.

On Tuesday Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown announced the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) tagged the Midwest Connect project, the route that will connect Chicago, Fort Wayne, Columbus, and Pittsburgh as one of four projects determined priorities for Amtrak expansion.

Each of the four projects will receive $500,000 from the FRA.

"The Northern Indiana Passenger Rail Association (NIPRA) is dedicated to bringing customer-focused passenger rail service back to Fort Wayne and the communities that make up the northern part of the Hoosier State," the NIPRA said in a statement.

"NIPRA is working with local elected and appointed officials and business leaders in our region to promote the return of passenger rail service to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Part of that vision includes showcasing the refurbished Baker Street Train Station and the significant resident feedback generated in support of passenger train service in and out of Fort Wayne."