California's legislature created the independent group to evaluate the rail plan's feasibility.

Then, Houston drew up a rail plan with entirely local funding.

And, he said, five more light rail plans were under consideration.

The rail plan would have required most visitors to leave their cars outside the park and travel to the canyon's rim by train.

The rail plan must still be approved by Congress.

Officials hope to reach an agreement on a $470 million rail plan and then to seek money for it.

The rail plan under discussion calls for construction in two phases.

Mr. Black said the high-speed rail plan was flawed from the start.

The rail plan was one of two major actions the authority board took at yesterday's meeting.

The light rail plan has the support of the region's most powerful politicians.