No rail money for Fort Wayne; local advocates still upbeat

Benjamin Lanka, The Journal Gazette

blanka@jg.net

A planned high-speed rail route through Fort Wayne failed to receive federal money Thursday, but advocates said the dream is not dead.

The White House announced the winners of $8 billion in grants to spur both the economy and rail access across the country. California, Florida and Illinois were among the big winners, but Indiana received $71.4 million to fix chronic problems in its northwest corner.

The state, along with Ohio and Illinois, sought money for a $2.8 billion passenger rail line connecting Chicago with Cleveland, with one of two possible routes coming through Fort Wayne. That proposal received no money.