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Yesterday, the Twin Cities' Central Corridor light-rail project received permission to enter the final design stage, the last step necessary to obtain a federal full funding grant agreement (FFGA).

The project office now will submit all documentation to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for a FFGA, which represents the federal government’s commitment to reimburse project partners for half the cost of building the $956 million, 11-mile line that will connect St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Advanced utility relocation work already has begun. Heavy construction is expected to start in August. The project is slated for completion in 2014.