FTA awards $182M to New Starts projects

On Monday, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced it is advancing a total of $182.4 million in New Starts funding for seven transit projects already under construction in New York, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Northern Virginia.

"By making these payments now, we're not only fulfilling the federal government's commitment to these projects sooner, but we're also giving a well-timed boost to communities that have made an important investment in their transportation infrastructure," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The grants being awarded will not increase the federal government's overall share in the projects but, instead, a portion of the federal share for each project is being paid earlier than expected because of unallocated funds in FTA's Fiscal Year 2010 budget for new construction.

The projects, which include subway, light rail and commuter rail, have already been given full funding grant agreements.

In recent years, the FTA has provided between $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion annually toward new public transportation projects through its New Starts Program, the primary source of federal assistance for local sponsors of transit construction.

To view a summary of projects receiving advance payments, click here.