JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri transportation officials have approved $200 million of rail projects for which they hope to receive federal stimulus money.

The Highways and Transportation Commission on Wednesday added the 11 rail projects to its five-year construction plan. But the projects will occur only if the federal government agrees to fund them.

Missouri is competing against other states for railroad stimulus funds, and preliminary applications show states are seeking nearly 12 times the amount of money available.

Missouri's projects generally are intended to remove bottlenecks on the Union Pacific tracks used by Amtrak passenger trains between St. Louis and Kansas City. The goal is to keep the trains running on time and eventually allow them to travel at faster speeds.

The 11 rail projects include:

1. Knob Noster Passing Siding Extension:  ($8,500,000) Project would extend existing siding to 9,000 feet and break up a 27 mile segment with no usable siding.

2. Webster Universal Crossover:  ($4,400,000) Project would increase ability to sort freight and passenger trains into and out of the St. Louis area.

3. Second Rail Bridge over Osage River:  ($33,800,000) Project would eliminate train delay caused by single-track bottleneck over bridge and reduce maintenance flexibility by adding crossovers.

4. Rail Crossing Safety Improvements:  ($3,600,000) Project would upgrade 13 crossings and close two, mostly west of Sedalia.  

5. Double Track Lee’s Summit to Pleasant Hill: ($56,600,000) Project would complete double track and signal upgrades to increase Amtrak train speed from 79 to 90 mph at this segment.  

6. Kingsville Passing Siding:  ($11,500,000)  Project would break up 25-mile segment with no passing siding.

7. Hermann Universal Crossover:  ($5,200,000)  Project would close an 18.2 mile gap on double mainline track with no crossovers.  

8. Third Mainline Track in Jefferson City Yard:  ($9,700,000) Project would increase fluidity through the Jefferson City yard by maintaining bi-directional freight operations with Amtrak operations.

9. Real-Time Passenger Information Displays:  ($3,000,000)  Project would install displays at eight intermediate stations to provide general train status information.

10. Strasburg Grade Separation:  ($15,000,000) Project would construct an overpass and remove a current at-grade crossing at Route E.

11. New Locomotive and Coach Equipment: ($50,000,000) Seek to purchase two new sets of locomotives and passenger equipment for use on the St. Louis to Kansas City route. (Application is part of the state of Wisconsin’s application)