U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak and Texas Central Partners said Wednesday they are seeking federal grants for proposed high-speed rail service between Dallas and Houston.

Amtrak and Texas Central are evaluating a potential partnership to further study and potentially advance the project. The proposed 240-mile route would mean a less than 90-minute trip between two of the top five major U.S. metropolitan areas. Texas Central and Amtrak have submitted applications to several federal programs for study and design work for the potential Dallas to Houston segment.

Congress approved $66 billion for rail as part of the 2021 massive infrastructure bill, with Amtrak receiving $22 billion. The law also sets aside $36 billion for competitive grants.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)