Last week we wondered whether the Senate's stimulus bill would include more mass transit funding than the $10 billion included in the initial House version.  But according to TPM's Elana Schor, the Senate Appropriations Committee's initial draft actually includes less -- $9.5 billion, to be exact. This is disappointing, at first glance.  But there's still plenty of time for some pro-transit lawmakers to make a push for more funding.

Case in point, Matt Yglesias notes today that Rep. Peter Fazio (D-NY) is championing the cause in the House.  And as as we relayed earlier, Illinois' own Rep. Phil Hare is demanding more rail funding here in the Prairie State.

In another encouraging development, a coalition of pro-rail interests has formed to push for more funding in both the stimulus and the impending transportation bill.  It's great to see this industry getting organized in the face of the powerful highway lobby.