Could a key component of the Midwest’s transit renaissance finally come to fruition? According to the AP, Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin have requested that a portion of the $8 billion set aside for high-speed rail in the federal stimulus bill be used to upgrade the existing rail line between Chicago and St. Louis.

In 2008, a record number of Illinois riders hopped aboard Amtrak. But thanks to deep, sustained congressional cutbacks, travelers along the Lincoln Corridor dealt with long delays and deteriorating rail cars. As Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told the Tribune last year, even modest improvements would limit the state’s carbon footprint by encouraging more people to take trains instead of driving. “What stands between us and even higher numbers,” he said, “are infrastructure improvements on the routes and the need for more rail equipment.”

That’s exactly what this federal investment would do.

While Quinn and Durbin didn’t say how much an upgrade would cost, incremental renovations to the corridor would allow trains to travel at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour, thereby cutting down travel times between Chicago and St. Louis by over 60 minutes. It would also make up the first leg of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, a comprehensive plan to modernize 3,000 miles of existing lines throughout the region. (See the proposed map here, with Chicago as its hub.)

Surprisingly, not all downstate congressmen are thrilled with the idea. As we documented on Friday, Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) framed the rail funding as a special earmark secured by Senate Majority Harry Reid -- a claim that’s widely acknowledged to be made up. Perhaps when he learns how the actual provision could benefit his district, he’ll change his tune.

UPDATE (3/10): The Daily Herald reports that Quinn and Durbin are seeking about $500 million dollars for the project.  Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Transportation "estimates it would cost between $500 million and $700 million for new cars and track improvements to get to the 110 mph level."

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user cck.