The Illinois Department of Transportation is getting $186 million for its high-speed rail project. U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood awarded the money to IDOT on Wednesday. LaHood's office says the cash will be used to  extend construction of the rail corridor to Joliet. That'll allow for 110-mph service along nearly 70 percent of the route. 

Construction is already under way on the Chicago-St. Louis rail corridor. Work on the extension to Joliet will begin this spring. LaHood says the Department of Transportation has invested more than $1 billion to create high-speed rail service in the  Great Lakes-Midwest region. He says the project will ultimately reduce travel times and congestion while creating jobs and  increasing business opportunities.