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Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met) plans to open its 5.8-mile Interstate MAX light-rail extension four months early — in May 2004.

The $350 million project also is $25 million under budget. Tri-Met plans to use the extra money to add security cameras at stations, upgrade track and signals, and install automatic track-switching devices.

The agency saved $3 million alone by recycling materials, such as asphalt and steel rebar.

Traveling through downtown Portland, the extension will include 10 stations. After Interstate MAX opens, the line will run 44 miles and include 64 stations.