The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that more than $177 million will be provided to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) in order to implement a passenger rail project that will operate twice daily, round-trip service between Chicago and the Quad Cities and put nearly 2,000 Americans back to work this spring.

“With America’s population set to grow by 100 million over the next 40 years, passenger rail will play a vital role in meeting America’s long-term transportation challenges,” said Secretary LaHood. “This project, and the others like it, will reduce congestion for the region, create jobs, and make the Midwest a better place to start a business.”

The start of twice daily round-trip service between Chicago and the Quad Cities, with intermediate stops at Geneseo, Princeton, Mendota, and Plano, Ill. will be made possible by various infrastructure improvements including, a new station at Geneseo, a layover facility in the Quad Cities area, communication and signaling improvements, and the purchase of new passenger rail equipment.

“Providing regional connectivity is critical to America’s long-term economic success,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. “These infrastructure and service improvements will provide Americans with more transportation options and allow them to travel the Midwest with greater ease.”

The introduction of next-generation American-made trains, funded as part of previously announced grants totaling $782 million, will help reinvigorate domestic manufacturing. States will purchase 36 quick-acceleration locomotives and 130 bi-level passenger cars to operate in Illinois, as well as Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, California, Washington, and Oregon.

To date, the U.S. Department of Transportation has invested $10.1 billion to connect America’s mega-regions with expanded rail access and improved reliability, speed, and frequency. Illinois is among thirty-two states throughout the U.S. and the District of Columbia that are laying the foundation for new and improved high-speed intercity passenger rail corridors that will link Americans with faster and more energy-efficient travel options.