Midwest governors talk high-speed rail

By AP

CHICAGO – Several Midwest governors are meeting in Chicago to talk high-speed trains.

Eight Midwest states have cooperated closely for months to promote a regional high-speed rail network with Chicago as its hub.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and other governors attending what's billed as a Midwest High Speed Rail Summit are expected to lobby again Monday for a cut of $8 billion in federal stimulus cash for such projects.

Competition for the money is stiff. Officials say 40 states have submitted 278 plans totaling $102 billion for federal rail funding.

Quinn's office says the governors expected to attend the summit include Wisconsin's Jim Doyle, Iowa's Chet Culver, Michigan's Jennifer Granholm and Ohio's Ted Strickland. Rail executives also planned to participate.