Mayors Push For More Rail Money

"About 300 municipal leaders are in the nation's capital this week for the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Increased federal funding for passenger rail services is at the top of the group's lobbying list. After a discussion focused on the economic, environmental and social benefits of getting commuters off highways and onto the rails, many of the mayors boarded the Acela Express — which debuted last month between Boston and Washington — for a roundtrip from Union Station to Baltimore's Penn Station. Many mayors say they are looking to the incoming Bush administration and the new Congress to make city and statewide rail transportation projects a priority."