Cities Miffed As Transportation Funds Filter to Rural Areas

The 100 largest metropolitan areas in the country account for nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population, and almost 75% of the country's economic activity. Many city officials are upset that the majority of funded transportation projects are in more rural area.

"According to an analysis by The New York Times of 5,274 transportation projects approved so far — the most complete look yet at how states plan to spend their stimulus money — the 100 largest metropolitan areas are getting less than half the money from the biggest pot of transportation stimulus money. In many cases, they have lost a tug of war with state lawmakers that urban advocates say could hurt the nation’s economic engines."