Tucked into a new $286.4 billion federal transportation spending bill is $1 million for a "multimodal station" in the city of Greenville, but the city has no specific plans for the money.

After learning a few years ago that "multimodal" was a popular idea in Washington -- it means connecting different types of transportation at one point -- the city put in a request for the money, thinking it might move the public bus system's transfer station soon, Mayor Knox White said.

It wasn't a high priority for the city as it sought federal dollars, White said. But while millions of dollars of transportation needs remain unmet nationwide, $1 million for the city's concept showed up in the bill passed by Congress and signed by the president this month.

"The way these federal appropriations processes work, you get what you can when you can, and then really work out the details," said City Manager Jim Bourey. "When they go through the negotiation process, you just want to make sure you get an earmark in and you get money allocated."

But that isn't the way it should work, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, a budget watchdog group that has been critical of the 6,373 so-called pork projects in the bill that total $24.2 billion.

"There are hundreds if not thousands of projects that have been earmarked in this bill that have not been the top priorities for communities," said Erich Zimmermann, senior policy analyst for the group.

Taxpayers for Common Sense would rather see Congress send money directly to local governments and let them determine how to spend it. Tying $1 million to a multimodal station means more pressing needs in Greenville could go unmet while the city decides how to spend the money, which may also require a local match, Zimmerman said.

While the multimodal money may not have been a top priority for the city when it put together an agenda for federal money, White said the $1 million, as he'd like it spent, isn't pork.

The mayor would like to see the money used to study moving Greenville Transit Authority's downtown transfer station to another site, possibly the Amtrak train station on Washington Street. Such a station also could provide a connection for a high-speed rail envisioned from Charlotte to Atlanta, White said.

That is a regional project, and the high-speed rail isn't guaranteed to stop in Greenville, White said. Having a connection already identified for it would make a stop here more likely.

Another possibility for spending the money, city officials said, is a connection point at the Palmetto Expo Center for private buses, public buses, cars, pedestrians and taxis.

The transportation connections would help people at the conference center get to and from downtown and hotels, White and Bourey said. The project also would focus more attention on revitalizing the Pleasantburg Drive corridor, they said.

The multimodal money also had been considered for improving Greenville Transit Authority shelters, possibly by adding bike racks and improving sidewalks around them, said Jim Campbell, assistant director of the city's Office of Management and Budget.

The city will decide what to do with the money during the next month or so, Bourey said.

Bob Kennedy of Easley said, "They should put in light rail."

Kennedy, who commutes to Greenville, said $1 million won't go far, but it's a start. He said the city needs to begin buying right of way for the light rail system.

"The trouble is the rights of way are gone or are too expensive to be purchased," he said.

Lee Yarborough, a city resident, said Greenville needs "a better bus system."

The state's U.S. senators, Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham, and U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis have touted the dollars secured for the state and the Greenville area. But the congressional offices Friday didn't have much information about the multimodal station.

DeMint stands behind projects in the bill, said spokesman Wesley Denton, and he worked with other members of the congressional delegation and local and state authorities to make sure they lined up with South Carolina's priorities.

Graham's spokesman, Kevin Bishop, also said the senator worked with DeMint, Inglis, state and local officials to meet future transportation needs through the bill.

"The funds will be available for use at the discretion of transportation officials in the local community," Bishop said in a statement. "Sen. Graham is confident over the next few years they will put the funds to good use."

Money for the multimodal station wasn't requested through Inglis' office, said his legislative director, Jason Morris. The request came through the state's senators, he said.

White said the bus, train and rail station was what he had in mind when asking Congress for the money. In addition to making room for a high-speed rail should it come, White said the Greenville Transit Authority's transfer station on McBee Avenue downtown is sitting on prime real estate that could be developed.

The $1 million probably would go only as far as planning a station, White said. Millions of dollars needed for a high-speed rail line through the region haven't been identified yet.

White said he doesn't expect the rail project to take shape for about 10 years, but he is convinced that it could happen. "It's really more real than people realize," White said.

Judy Dudley, director of the transit authority, has said the $1 million was for a city project, not the authority. She couldn't be reached for comment Friday.

Other Greenville County earmarks in the bill are $6.8 million to build and improve roads around Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research and $3.6 million to improve West Georgia Road in Simpsonville.

The city of Greenville had asked Congress for $8 million for ICAR to connect the roads being built there.

The West Georgia Road improvement project is among many long-term needs in the Greenville metro area. Cost estimates show widening the road could cost $18 million or more.

The $3.6 million earmark could be enough to start engineering and planning the project, and possibly purchasing right of way, said John Gardner, senior transportation planner for Greenville County.