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Last week, a House and Senate conference committee approved a $75 million fiscal-year 2004 appropriation for Sound Transit’s Central Link light-rail system.

Sound Transit requested the $75 million appropriation, an amount President George W. Bush in February included in his proposed FY2004 budget. The Senate also proposed $75 million for the project, but the House proposed only $15 million. Washington State Sen. Patty Murray was a member of the conference committee and helped bridge the gap between the two parties, said Sound Transit officials in a prepared statement.

The House and Senate now will review the conference agreement for final approval.

The $75 million would be the 2004 installment of a $500 million full funding grant agreement approved by Federal Transit Administration Oct. 24.

Sound Transit broke ground on the Central Link system Nov. 8.