SUPERTRAINS

I've never been to Portland, and do think the restoration of the route 23 trolley is a much higher national priority than ferrying around drunks on the east side of Portland, but at least someone's getting some supertrain cash.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood awarded $75 million in federal money Thursday to expand Portland's streetcar system, a decision that elated local officials who have long supported the stalled project and signaled a new national embrace of urban transit.

The federal government's money and blessing removes the last and most stubborn barrier to expanding the line east of the Willamette River and unleashes an already approved pot of $55 million from local governments and another $20 million from state lottery bonds.