The U.S. Department of Transportation's FY2012 Budget Highlights released with the president's budget shows funding for Central Corridor quadrupling from $45 million recommended in fiscal 2011 to $200 million in fiscal 2012.

"This is another concrete example of the administration's strong support for the Central Corridor LRT Project," said Chair Susan Haigh of the Metropolitan Council.

The Central Corridor project is poised to create at least 3,400 jobs since the FTA forwarded the Full Funding Grant Agreement earlier this month to Congress. An FFGA is the federal government's contractual commitment to pay half the cost of building the $957 million line. A 60-day courtesy review will occur prior to execution. The project already has spent $145 million for design, property and construction.

With support of both past and present federal and state administrations for the Central Corridor FFGA, the Met Council awarded the major construction contracts last year and began work after receiving sufficient advance funding commitments from local funding partners, creating 571 jobs.

The 3,400 jobs would be for engineering, construction, management and operations personnel.