Rail projects, including California's high-speed system, would get a significant boost in funding under legislation passed by the House of Representatives recently. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (HR 6003) would invest $14.4 billion over five years. The money would be used as matching funds for states that are building passenger rail lines.

In the past, such matching funds have amounted to only 50% of the states' costs, well below the 80% that highway projects receive. The new legislation would raise rail matches to the same 80% level. A similar measure passed the Senate last year.

It's about time. Environmental concerns and the cost of oil and make rail travel look better and better, but we're still stuck in our 1950s addiction to highways.

There are signs people are getting it, though. Amtrak ridership is at record levels, and growing rapidly. During fiscal year 2007, more than 25.8 million passengers used Amtrak. Ticket revenue was more than $1.5 billion, up 11% over the previous year. And in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, that trend continued, with an increase of 11% in ridership. Revenue for the quarter was up 14.6%.