FTA 11-02
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
Contact: Gail Taylor
Tel.: (202) 366-4043
Federal Transit Administration Awards $63 Million To Tri-County Metropolitan
Transportation District
Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn today was joined by U.S. Senator
Gordon Smith in announcing a grant of $63 million in Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) funds to the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation
District (Tri-Met) of Oregon.
Administrator Dorn and Senator Smith were also joined by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Rep. David Wu, Metro Executive Mike Burton and Tri-Met General Manager Fred Hansen in making the announcement.
“President Bush has proposed $7.2 billion for the Federal Transit Program as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 budget, further reinforcing this Administration’s commitment to public transportation as a strategic investment,” said Administrator Dorn.
Senator
Smith added, “The IMAX extension is an
important part of transforming Portland's light rail system into a network
worthy of a first-class city. It
will go a long way toward improving the quality of life in Portland and its
surrounding communities.”
Funds authorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century support today’s grant of $63,360,837, which will be used for the Interstate Metropolitan Area Express (IMAX) light rail transit (LRT) extension project. Tri-Met is proposing a 5.8-mile extension of the IMAX that will expand existing LRT service northward from the Rose Quarter and the Oregon Convention Center in downtown Portland to North Portland neighborhoods, medical facilities and the Metropolitan Exposition Center. This LRT extension will connect established residential, commercial, entertainment and other major activity centers, and provide a vital transportation link in the region’s welfare-to-work programs.
The funds awarded today will go toward the purchase of light rail electric propulsion cars; construction line equipment; train control signals; renovation of the Ruby Junction administration and maintenance facility; traction power equipment; property acquisition; and program administration. The LRT extension is expected to accommodate an average of 18,100 weekday boardings, including 8,400 new riders, by 2020. Revenue service is scheduled to begin in September 2004.
The Federal Transit Administration and Tri-Met entered into a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for the project on Sept. 20, 2000. An FFGA is the federal government’s commitment to support a transit project over the course of several fiscal years, contingent upon the availability of funds. As funds are appropriated, the full funding projects receive priority consideration.
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