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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta recently announced the award of $87.1 million in Federal Transit Administration grants for St. Louis and San Diego light-rail projects.



Metropolitan Transit Development Board’s (MTDB) Mission Valley East Light Rail Transit extension will receive $59.4 million to extend the San Diego Trolley system’s Blue Line 5.9 miles east along the Interstate-8 corridor to the Grossmont Center station in La Mesa, Calif., where it will connect with the Orange Line.



MTDB plans to purchase 11 new light-rail vehicles, and construct stations at Grantville, San Diego State University, Alvarado Medical Center and 70th Street.



Bi-State Development Agency in St. Louis plans to use its $27.7 million grant to extend MetroLink about 17 miles from the existing Fifth and Missouri station in East St. Louis, Ill., through Belleville, Ill., to Belleview Area College. The funds also will help pay for 20 new LRVs, and construction of eight stations and a maintenance facility in East St. Louis.