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In August, work is scheduled to get under way on a portion of the Central Corridor light-rail project in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

In September, the Federal Transit Administration is expected to execute a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for the $957 million project. The federal government will provide half of necessary funding, with 30 percent of costs covered by the Counties Transit Improvement Board, 10 percent by the state and 10 percent by two counties.

To enable construction to begin before an FFGA is executed, the Federal Transit Administration will need to issue letters promising to reimburse project partners half of construction costs if an agreement is later approved, according to the Metropolitan Council, a regional planning agency.

The Central Corridor would link downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis along Washington and University avenues via the State Capitol and University of Minnesota. A planned 11-mile segment, which would connect with a Hiawatha light-rail line, is scheduled to open in 2014. Heavy construction is scheduled to start on the western end and eastern end of St. Paul’s University Avenue in spring 2011 and spring 2012, respectively.