Last summer, America's government-subsidized passenger railroad received emergency operating funds, but its long-term future remains in doubt. Critics say rail travel is outmoded and expensive, and that the billions of dollars in subsidies Amtrak receives aren't warranted because it accounts for less than 1 percent of intercity passenger travel. But Amtrak supporters argue that rail travel reduces highway congestion, air pollution and urban sprawl while stimulating economic growth in urban centers. If the railroad received its fair share of federal transportation funding, supporters say, the U.S. would have the finest rail system in the world. Meanwhile, to boost ridership and revenues, Amtrak in 2000 introduced high-speed rail in the busy Northeast Corridor and now is trying to bring HSR to other parts of the country.

Brian Hansen, a freelance writer in Boulder, Colo., specializes in educational and environmental issues. He previously was a staff writer for The Researcher and a reporter for the Colorado Daily in Boulder and Environment News Service in Washington. His awards include the Scripps Howard Foundation award for public service reporting and the Education Writers Association award for investigative reporting. He holds a B.A. in political science and an M.A. in education from the University of Colorado.