A passenger train might connect Fort Wayne to Chicago by 2020. Mayor Tom Henry and members of the Northern Indiana Passenger Rail Association announced on Monday federal and state agencies have approved the first step in establishing a new rail line.

The first step is the Alternatives Analysis and Public Involvement Process, which will examine the preliminary engineering, technical analysis, service planning and environmental impacts.

The cost of the process will be covered by a number of cities and businesses along the proposed rail. It’s expected to be a $350,000 investment.