CHICAGO — Long-stalled efforts to clean up Metra's fleet of dirty locomotives could get a big boost next year, as Illinois is slated to collect nearly $98 million for anti-pollution efforts from a federal legal settlement from Volkswagen, reported the Chicago Tribune.

The agreement stipulates the money from the German automaker — who installed secret software in nearly a half-million diesel vehicles to make them appear cleaner than they actually were — must be used to reduce lung- and heart-damaging nitrogen oxides emitted by diesel trains, buses, ferries and equipment, the report said.

So far there has been no public discussion of how Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration should spend the VW windfall, though a top aide said Metra, which relies on locomotives built in the 1970s, and other potential recipients already are clamoring behind the scenes to secure a share, according to the Chicago Tribune. For the full story, click here.