Mass Transit Makes a Comeback

New subways and light-rail systems whoosh off drawing boards

Near dawn one nippy day last November, several dozen sleepy citizens of Baltimore gathered at the new Reisterstown Plaza station just northwest of downtown. After seven years of jackhammered streets and more than a quarter-century of discussion and planning, they were eager to board the city's gleaming new subway for its first passenger run. Just past 5 a.m., the shiny silver-and-blue Metro cars, built at a cost of $600,000 each, whooshed into view. Marveled Mark Miller, a radio announcer who had risen at 3:30 to...

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