FTA Approves Final Design on Light-Rail Lines
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 2:29 PM
Good news in our plans to build the North and Southeast lines: The Federal Transit Administration has just approved our Final Design on these two lines.
This approval means we have just completed the final prerequisite toward entering something called a Full Funding Grant Agreement on both lines. And achieving that step signals the federal government's commitment to fund its part of the projects.
So what this approval entail?
It gives METRO permission to start preparing for construction. That includes utility relocation, right-of-way acquisition, development of detailed specifications and preparation of final construction plans.
The FTA noted in its letter that METRO had adequately defined the North and Southeast Corridor's project scope, cost estimate, schedule and potential risk areas. 
The letter also stated we had demonstrated the technical capacity and capability to construct and implement the projects, adding that METRO has sufficient technical and management resources to enter into final design work.
Last month, METRO issued a $121 million work order for the North and Southeast lines, including utility relocation work. The work order is a segment of a larger contract that allows for the initial spending of $632 million on the North, Southeast and East End light-rail lines.
All this construction is expected to result in 60,000 direct and indirect jobs. Small and local businesses are expected to up to $385 million in eligible contract work by the time four lines, including Uptown, are done.
The photos posted here show construction of the Red Line on Main Street.