The Washington State Department of Transportation awarded two major construction contracts to help Sound Transit implement bus rapid transit in Snohomish County. A $13.1 million contract was awarded to Mowat Construction Co. for HOV direct access ramps to the new Lynwood Transit Center. The center will be in operation in the fall of 2003 and will feature 20 bus bays for Community Transit, King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit's ST Express regional bus service. The direct access ramp is scheduled to be complete in spring 2005. Another $7.6 million will be given to Tri-State Construction Co. for the transit-only direct access ramp at the Ash Way park-and-ride lot. The ramp will be completed at the end of 2004. The Washington DOT will oversee construction on both projects. The Federal Transit Administration is a major funding partner for both.