By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

Chicago may be getting a little bit closer to Niles.

Michigan will receive $40 million in federal stimulus money to develop high-speed rail corridors between Chicago and Detroit.

The Niles Amtrak station will see significantly faster trains pass through, thanks to the federal funding announced Thursday.

City Administrator Terry Eull does not know the details of how the money will be used yet but thinks that developing a high speed rail to Chicago is a positive for the community.

“Anytime you get a shot in the arm to bring a big city closer to you, it’s a positive,” he said. “Believe it or not, there are people from the Michiana area who go to Chicago every day and now may be able to do it in half the time.”

He also said a high speed rail may bring more residents to Niles.

The $40 million given to Michigan is just a portion of $8 billion in grants for funding high-speed trains and other rail projects throughout the country, announced Thursday by President Barack Obama.

The funding in Michigan will go toward a new building and platform at the Dearborn Amtrak station, a new platform and passenger service facilities at the Troy station and renovation of the Battle Creek station building and passenger service facility.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm was pleased with the announcement.

“This Recovery Act funding for high-speed rail along the Pontiac-Detroit-Chicago corridor is a victory for Michigan and the Midwest,” she said in a press release Thursday. “The funding will give us a head start toward our high-speed rail future, funding key improvements to stations in Battle Creek, Troy and Dearborn.  We will continue to work with our partners in the region and aggressively pursue our share in the second round of funding.”