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The federal government is covering more than half the cost for Norfolk, Va., to gain a light-rail line. On Monday, Federal Transit Administration officials signed a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for Norfolk Light Rail, providing Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) $128 million — or 55 percent of the project's $232.1 million cost.

Nicknamed "The Tide," the 7.4 mile line will run from the Eastern Virginia Medical Center through downtown along a corridor paralleling Interstate 264. Construction will start in November and conclude in 2010 on the line, which will feature 11 stations and average about 12,000 passengers daily.

"The signing of the FFGA could very well be one of the most significant occasions for HRT and the city of Norfolk," said HRT President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Townes in a prepared statement. "Our federal partnership is critical to 'The Tide's' success."