WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week gave the final approval for a $196.5 million grant to the Michigan Department of Transportation for improvements on the path between Detroit and Kalamazoo. Also last week, MDOT reached a $140 million agreement with Norfolk Southern to buy about 135 miles of track between Kalamazoo that was paid mostly with federal grant money. 

The ultimate goal is to offer a high-speed rail between Chicago and Dearborn. The improvements could allow for speeds up to 110 mph through most of the track shaving 30 minutes off travel time. New construction will likely begin in spring 2012 and create hundreds of jobs.