Stimulus Should Get Rail Back on Track

"TreeHugger: While the Obama administration is investing in new and existing transit systems, existing public transportation services are being cut back around the country, and California's budget woes may even threaten the implementation of its newly approved plan for high-speed rail. Will the stimulus money be sufficient to get the country's existing transit systems back on track?

Andy Kunz: It should be, if we focus on what’s really needed. Keep in mind this stimulus is only part of what will fund the transition to a green transportation system for the country. We have road budgets that can be drastically cut to help fund trains. We can also use some of our massive defense budget to fund the train systems since getting the nation off oil is certainly a matter of national security. Plus the big transportation reauthorization bill is coming up for renewal later this year - which will set the transportation spending priorities for the next 5 years.

We do need a master plan for rail at the national level as well as regional and local levels all across the country."