ANOTHER FRIDAY, ANOTHER TRAIN RIDE, this time to Chicago for a workshop at Illinois-Chicago. There is continued work improving the stations on Chicago's Metra. One of the other big winners in Tuesday's election was transportation improvements. Herewith a few:

California and Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved measures to stop their states from dipping into highway funds to pay for projects unrelated to transportation — something budget-strapped states have done recently.

A federal spending program for roads and transit expired in 2003, and a new spending bill has been languishing on Capitol Hill. President Bush signed an extension through May 31. Almost half of funding for state and local transportation comes from the federal government.

Tight finances have prompted state and local governments to ask voters to help pay for new light-rail systems, wider highways and more bus routes. And despite concerns over the economy, most voters said ‘yes.'

The national Republican platform includes some language about high-speed rail. I must use this journal to keep that fact in front of my representatives.