The Region - News from Feb. 1, 1985

Southern California Rapid Transit District officials, facing what they concede is an uphill battle to save the proposed Metro Rail subway system, said a lobbying blitz on Capitol Hill has convinced them that the project has a chance of surviving this year’s battles over the federal budget. The Reagan Administration, which will release its budget proposal Monday, is expected to recommend that federal mass transit funding be restructured in a manner that would make it almost impossible to secure the more than $200 million in federal funds the project needs to continue. Deputy Mayor Tom Houston said the project’s backers believe that there are “several different vehicles (with which to get the funds), and we’re going to explore each and every one of them.”