As the recovery plan was debated in Congress, the House and Senate had seemingly similar but, at the same time, different ideas on how stimulus money should fund transportation projects.

On Saturday, December 27, Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, Arizona welcomed passengers aboard their brand-new light rail system. The 20-mile, $1.4 billion dollar rail system is a first for the state; until now, Phoenix had been the largest U.S. city without public trains.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced people rode subways, buses and commuter railroads in record numbers in the third quarter of this year. At the same time, the plunge in oil prices may have created an opportunity for states and the federal government to readdress the gas tax to better fund infrastructure projects.

Blueprint America correspondent Rick Karr travels to St. Louis to visit the people who're likely to suffer the most if transit officials cut service to save the city money.