KC Light Rail

Norfolk (1.66 million, 4,362/sq. mi.) - The Tide, a 7.4-mile starter light rail is under construction and set to open in 2010. The short route was driven by lack of support from neighboring Virginia Beach, who has since signed back on with an extension to the oceanfront. The low $232 million construction cost ($128 million from the feds) is largely the result of using abandoned right of way from railroad Norfolk Southern. Two daily trains direct from Amtrak's Northeast Corridor arrive in neighboring Newport News.

Charlotte (1.65 million, 2,515/sq. mi.) - Low density like Indy, Austin, and KC, yet car-focused Charlotte residents were surpassing ridership estimates within months of the LYNX light rail line's November 2007 opening. The 9.6-mile starter line shares tracks with a vintage trolley line, uses abandoned railroad right-of-way, and had a final price tag of $462 million — double the original estimate, but still managed to survive a transit tax repeal effort. Extensions and a connecting commuter rail line are in planning stages. State-sponsored Amtrak service was relocated to a new intermodal facility in the middle of Uptown.

Providence (1.60 million, 9,473/sq. mi.) - Served exclusively by diesel buses for the time being, for which fares increased to $1.75 last week. A long-range transit plan calls for rail, but no funding is in place. Local transit provider RIPTA takes the top spot for worst-sounding acronym ever. Frequent commuter rail service from Boston is being extended to the airport to offset congestion at Boston's Logan Airport. Providence Station is a major stop on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.

Austin (1.59 million, 2,396/sq. mi.) - MetroRail, a DMU commuter rail service begins this fall, sharing tracks with an active freight route. A circulator streetcar has been proposed, as well as frequent train service along the congested Austin-San Antonio corridor. Amtrak serves Austin today with one daily long-distance train.

Milwaukee (1.54 million, 6,214/sq. mi.) - No light rail for this bike-friendly city that's slowly becoming big suburb of Chicago. Advocates are fighting to keep a commuter rail proposal alive that would serve Racine and Kenosha, but state legislators keep balking on funding proposals (half-cent sales tax, $13 rental car fee). Frequent state-sponsored Amtrak service connects a renovated intermodal facility and Chicago's Union Station, with a stop at Milwaukee's airport.