North Carolina's transportation earmarks heavily favor cars.

Members of the state's Congressional delegation requested 74 federal appropriations worth $313.8 million for airports, trains, transit and roads.

Here's a breakdown:

ROADS: 40 requests worth $174.4 million. Projects range from $300,000 to fix a bridge in Montreat to $84.7 million to extend a road through Fort Bragg.

TRANSIT: 13 requests worth $67.2 million. Projects range from $500,000 to buy new hybrid buses for Asheville to $30 million to extend Charlotte's light-rail system.

AIRPORT: 15 requests worth $46.6 million. Projects range from $665,000 to address safety concerns at the Richmond County airport to $7.5 million to extend a runway in Oxford.

TRAINS: Six requests worth $25.6 million. Projects range from $166,000 for a new roof on the Gibson train depot to $9.5 million for a new stop in Lexington.

U.S. Rep. Mel Watt is seeking $179.7 million in earmarks.

The Charlotte Democrat released his list of 66 requested appropriations for the federal budget on his Web site.

The largest request is for $30 million to expand Charlotte's Lynx light rail system. The smallest is for $127,849 to research the use of Nigella sativa in treating and preventing breast cancer.

Other notable earmarks:

* Funding a National Textile Center at N.C. State University, $16.5 million.

* Research regenerative medicine for wounded soldiers, $10 million.

* Widen Interstate 85 in Davidson and Rowan counties, $10 million.

* Research cattails as an alternative biofuel source, $2.5 million.

U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell is seeking $530.1 million in earmarks.

The Biscoe Democrat released his list of 103 requested appropriations for the federal budget on his Web site.

The largest request is for $84.7 million to extend a road through the Fort Bragg Army base in Fayetteville. The smallest request is $35,000 for Project Fresh Start, a program to help former prison inmates.

Other notable earmarks:

* Extend Charlotte's Lynx transit system, $30 million.

* Build a sewage treatment plant in Hoke County, $21.2 million.

* Build new headquarters for the 406th Army field support at Fort Bragg, $16.5 million.

* Help N.C. National Guard prepare unmanned aerial systems, $6.1 million.

Pat McCrory says light rail isn't for everyone.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate told Dome in a recent interview that the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte has been a success, but he doesn't think every part of the state needs — or wants — its own rail-based transit.

"It's not suited for all parts of our state or even all parts of the city," he said. He would not say whether the Triangle, Greensboro or other North Carolina cities need it, saying that is a local decision.

In some areas, he said that light rail can help promote economic development, give citizens an alternative to congested roads and help the environment.

He defended the Charlotte system against conservative critics by noting that a recent referendum on the sales tax that partially funds it was approved by more than 70 percent of voters.

He also said he didn't decide to back rail by "putting my finger up in the air."

"I did it because of leadership," he said. 

A delegation of Raleigh officials rode Pat McCrory's pet project this week.

Sixty civic leaders and politicians traveled to Charlotte to ride the Lynx Blue Line, the 9.6-mile transit line a decade in the making that launched in November.

The $472 million trains have been packed with 12,000 riders a day so far, well above forecasts, Bruce Siceloff reports. It's already spurred new development expected to increase city property tax revenue by $8.5 million per year by 2011.

The project was applauded by leaders as diverse as state Rep. Deborah Ross, a Democrat, and Tony Gurley, a Republican on the Wake County board of commissioners. They also saluted the city—and McCrory's—efforts to defeat a repeal of the half-cent sales tax that funds the project.

"It was beautifully done—and, frankly, Wake County struggles with that," said Ross.

Still, McCrory rarely talks about the train—not to mention the tax—on the campaign trail in the Republican primary, perhaps because of fear of criticism from fiscal conservatives.

Doug Clark says Pat McCrory is the GOP's best chance for governor.

In a column today, the Greensboro News-Record editor writes that the longtime Charlotte mayor has a "track record" that compares favorably to the Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

He cites uptown Charlotte's "impressive progress," including light rail, a professional basketball arena and "urban enthusiasm." 

Conservatives can slight McCrory as a moderate, or worse. He's pushed for local tax increases to support Charlotte projects, like mass transportation. That may hurt him in the GOP primary, but if he gets the nomination, his pragmatic approach could attract independent voters.  

One downside: McCrory's already been attacked for the fact that Charlotte has a "weak mayor" system. But Clark thinks that's not an issue if he's up against Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, whose job also comes with few significant duties.